A list of lisps and the unpronounceable ‘s’

In the Spanish language, lisp is a special way to pronounce and utter particular words properly or to convey a certain word’s meaning efficiently. However, in other languages, speaking with a lisp is undoubtedly unacceptable.

Image Source: leitrimadultguidance.com

Having a lisp, as speech experts, like Veronica Noah, and rehabilitation doctors, like Mary Kneiser, would believe, is not a hindrance for one to live his life normally. It is not an impairment exclusive only to ordinary people. British crooner Morrissey did not let his incapacity to pronounce words with ‘s’ hold him back to achieving a supernova rock star status, and American author Truman Capote’s speech disability did not become a detrimental factor for him not to be blatant during his book signings.

Image Source: warm-glass.co.uk

A lisp is not a disease, but anyone who has a lisp can go to a speech therapist or rehabilitation expert to improve the way he speaks. However, in order to fix one’s speech, a person must first be aware of the specific type of lisp that he has.

The four kinds of lisp


The interdental/frontal lisp, in which the tongue juts on the back of the front teeth, is the most common lisp of all. It creates a hissing /th/ sound whenever the speaker utters a word with ‘s’ or ‘z’ in it.  

Dentalised lisp happens when the speaker’s tongue touches the front teeth every time he talks. Intoxicated people may also produce this kind of lisp.

In palatal lisp, the speaker’s tongue comes into contact with the soft palate (roof of the mouth) as he pronounces words with ‘s,’ ‘z,’ and, sometimes, those with ‘r’ and ‘l’ in it.

Lateral lisp, or most commonly known as the wet lisp, is a kind of lisp in which a wet, sludgy sound comes as the /s/ and /z/ sounds are pronounced.

Image Source: beaut.ie

 This Twitter page has more links to articles related to physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Pelvic pain: Diagnosis and treatment

Pain in the pelvis is a symptom that may indicate an underlying abnormal psychoneuromuscular function. Pelvic pain can be acute or chronic. Acute pelvic pain is often experienced after surgery or other soft tissue trauma. If the pain lasts longer than three to six months, it is categorized as chronic pelvic pain. Although pelvic pain is experienced by both men and women, it is more prevalent among women and is usually associated with dysmenorrhea.

Image source: bodyconfidential.co.uk

Diagnosis
Pelvic pain can be caused by different conditions, including visceral pain and pelvic girdle pain.
In women, pelvic pain may result from various gynecological conditions such as dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cysts, ovarian torsion, Mullerian abnormalities, and pelvic inflammatory disease. The pelvic pain may also be caused by abdominal problems like appendicitis, colitis, proctitis, and long pain hematuria syndrome.

Chronic pelvic pain in men is called chronic prostatitis. Men with this problem do not have known infections unlike women.

Image source: alive.com

Treatments
The International Pelvic Pain Society states that chronic pelvic pain is one of the most difficult clinical problems to treat because many patients do not respond to conventional medical or surgical treatment. Doctors who treat patients of chronic pelvic pain must have adequate knowledge about the disorder and must have special skills in physical examination and history-taking in order to uncover all sources of the patient's pain.

Physiatrists like Jung Ahn, Mary Kneiser, and Kathleen Francis are examples of doctors who are trained in treating pelvic pain.

After examining the patient’s medical history, physiatrists conduct diagnostics tests. Men with chronic pelvic pain are usually treated with multimodal therapy, with the goal of relaxing the pelvic nerves. Women may be required to take a pregnancy test, too, before undergoing on a trial of anti-inflammatory medications, hormonal therapy, or neurological agents. In some cases, the chronic pelvic pain can only be treated by the surgical removal of the uterus.

Image source: healthtap.com

When planning a consultation with a physiotherapist for chronic pelvic pain, make sure the doctor is licensed and has sufficient training in physical therapy and rehabilitation. Mary Kneiser, for instance, is a physiatrist certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Learn more about her practice at www.abilityassessments.com.

Good Posture Helps Reduce Back Pain

By John Schubbe, DC
Full article accessible at spine-health.com

Correct posture is a simple but very important way to keep the many intricate structures in the back and spine healthy. It is much more than cosmetic—good posture and back support are critical to reducing the incidence and levels of back pain and neck pain. Back support is especially important for patients who spend many hours sitting in an office chair or standing throughout the day.

Problems Caused by Poor Back Support and Posture

Not maintaining good posture and adequate back support can add strain to muscles and put stress on the spine. Over time, the stress of poor posture can change the anatomical characteristics of the spine, leading to the possibility of constricted blood vessels and nerves, as well as problems with muscles, discs and joints. All of these can be major contributors to back and neck pain, as well as headaches, fatigue, and possibly even concerns with major organs and breathing.

Identifying Good Posture

Basically, having correct posture means keeping each part of the body in alignment with the neighboring parts. Proper posture keeps all parts balanced and supported. With appropriate posture (when standing) it should be possible to draw a straight line from the earlobe, through the shoulder, hip, knee, and into the middle of the ankle.

Because people find themselves in several positions throughout the day (sitting, standing, bending, stooping, and lying down) it's important to learn how to attain and keep correct posture in each position for good back support, which will result in less back pain. When moving from one position to another, the ideal situation is that one’s posture is adjusted smoothly and fluidly. After initial correction of bad posture habits, these movements tend to become automatic and require very little effort to maintain.

Ergonomic Office Chairs for Back Support

Office work often results in poor posture and strain to the lower back. Many people work sitting in an office chair that is not properly fitted to their body and does not provide enough lower back support. One strategy is to choose an ergonomic office chair that often provides better support than a regular chair and may be more comfortable for the patient.

What is a Physiatrist?

This article explains the roles and qualifications of a physiatrist.

Written by: Richard A. Staehler, MD
Article re-posted from: www.spine-health.com

A physiatrist practices in the field of physiatry – also called physical medicine and rehabilitation – which is a branch of medicine that specializes in diagnosis, treatment and management of disease primarily using "physical" means, such as physical therapy and medications.

Essentially, physiatrists specialize in a wide variety of treatments for the musculoskeletal system - the muscles, bones and associated nerves, ligaments, tendons and other structures – and the musculoskeletal disorders that cause pain and/or difficulty with functioning. Physiatrists do not perform surgery.

A physiatrist's treatment focuses on helping the patient become as functional and pain-free as possible in order to participate in and enjoy life as fully as possible.

A physiatrist can be either a medical doctor (MD) or a doctor of osteopathy (DO). A physiatrist may be referred to as a:

• Physiatrist
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation physician
• PM&R physician

Physiatry Training and Specialization

A physiatrist's training includes four years of medical school as well as four years of residency training. The first year of residency training focuses on internal medicine (general practice), and the following three years of residency emphasize specialty training.

After residency, further specialization and training is available through Fellowships in a particular field. A Fellowship is typically one to two years of training in a particular specialty.

Physiatrists may complete one of the following Fellowships that provide additional focus and training in particular forms of treatment:

• Spine - for treatment of back pain, neck pain, sciatica, and any form of pain or dysfunction that originates in the spine
• Pain management - for treatment of many types of chronic pain (e.g. back pain, fibromyalgia, arthritis pain). Physiatrists who specialize in pain medicine have additional specialty training in injections used to treat pain.
• Sports medicine - for sports injuries
• Brain injury (e.g. stroke) - for rehabilitation
• Spinal cord injury - for rehabilitation
• Pediatric medicine - for physiatric treatment of children under age 18

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialty

The specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, or physiatry, is approximately 60 years old. Today, there are over 8,000 physicians practicing physical medicine and rehabilitation1.

Many PM&R physicians who treat back pain are part of a Spine Center or Spine Hospital, treating patients within a practice that includes other specialists, such as physical therapists, spine surgeons, rehabilitation specialists, and more.

Whether or not they work in a multispecialty spine practice, many physiatrists also serve to coordinate the patient’s care with a multidisciplinary team of other doctors and specialists, such as physical therapists, spine surgeons, psychologists, chiropractors, and more.

Regaining life after stroke: Dr. Mary Kneiser and post-stroke rehabilitation

Mary Kneiser image credit: strokerehabonline.com

It is the utmost need of stroke survivors to get back on their feet and it’s the main duty of physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists like Mary Kneiser to help them fulfil this need.

Stroke is usually described as a ‘massive shock to the system.’ It is estimated that almost one-third of people who suffered from a stroke are left with physical and cognitive disabilities.

The effects of stroke vary according to its type, severity, and location. Regardless of what type of stroke a patient experienced, brain damage commonly occurs along with it, leading to the impairment of body functions. Though rehabilitation cannot totally eliminate the effects of brain damage, a recovery plan formed by a hospital’s stroke unit can significantly help people reach the best possible outcome. The road to recovery starts with a rehabilitation plan that’s tailored to the person’s needs.

Mary Kneiser image credit: buzzle.com

Dr. Mary Kneiser believes that the success of rehabilitation lies on the amount of time and effort rendered. A hospital’s stroke unit usually consists of therapists, including physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists. A stroke unit can also tap into the expertise of dieticians, clinical psychologists, and advocacy groups in order to ensure that patients are getting the support to help them achieve the best long-term recovery.

According to Carole Pound of the stroke charity UK Connect, “stroke care is about giving the person who has had a stroke more choice and control and not necessarily independence.” He goes on to say, “Some people may never regain their independence, but it's important that they feel in control of their recovery.”

Mary Kneiser image credit: strokengine.ca

Read more about the duties of physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists like Mary Kneiser at this Twitter page.

Dr. Mary Kneiser: Debunking fibromyalgia myths

Mary Kneiser image credit: medicmagic.net

More than 6 million Americans suffer from fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by widespread muscle and joint pain and fatigue. Physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists, like Dr. Mary Kneiser, note that fibromyalgia is the most common musculoskeletal condition after osteoarthritis. Nonetheless, it is often misdiagnosed and misunderstood.

Below are some myths about fibromyalgia and the truth behind them.

Fibromyalgia affects only women and older adults.
Fibromyalgia strikes both sexes and people of all ages. Although it occurs in about 1 in 30 women, it also afflicts men, 1 in 200. Meanwhile, the risk of developing fibromyalgia increases as one gets older.

Fibromyalgia is caused by depression.
Fibromyalgia is not caused by depression. Anxiety and depression are among the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.

Mary Kneiser image credit: uvahealth.com

Among the conditions treated by physiatrists, like Dr. Mary Kneiser, include spinal cord injury and musculoskeletal pain syndromes like fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is not real.
Fibromyalgia is an illness recognized by healthcare professionals. Back in the 1800s, physicians wrote about “muscular rheumatism,” a condition characterized by fatigue, stiffness, aches, pains, and sleep disturbances. The current term was coined in 1976. Fibromyalgia is one of the most common types of chronic widespread pain.

Fibromyalgia is fatal.
Fibromyalgia is not life-threatening, but living with chronic widespread pain can be tough. With proper treatment, people with fibromyalgia can see symptoms improve.

Mary Kneiser image credit: abilityassessments.com

There is hope for people suffering from fibromyalgia. Rehabilitation specialists, like Dr. Mary Kneiser, can help those in pain. Visit www.abilityassessments.com for additional details.

Dr. Mary Kneiser: On backpacks and back pains

Mary Kneiser image credit: backpainpro.info

Back pains are usually experienced by adults. This is no surprise, given that their bones and muscles lack the flexibility present in younger ones’. But for Dr. Mary Kneiser and other physiatrists, this idea is becoming less true because many children and teenagers nowadays also suffer from back pains. One of the reasons for this is their student lifestyle, which most of the time requires them to wear backpacks.

Mary Kneiser image credit: bimmerboost.com

Backpacks are efficient for busy and enthusiastic students who frequently carry a number of books and educational materials around. But if not used properly, backpacks pose health risks to passionate students who are eager to learn. For one, if these are overloaded, they end up straining the students’ backs, necks, and shoulders.

From babble.com

The back continuously adjusts to any load applied to it. For this reason, as Dr. Mary Kneiser and other experts in the physical medicine and rehabilitation field believe, heavy backpacks cause the natural curves in the middle and lower back to distort, leading to muscle strain and irritation of spine joints.

Mary Kneiser image credit: modernmom.com

Likewise, when students tend to carry their backpacks over only one shoulder, muscles start to become overworked as they try to compensate for the uneven weight.

With this, parents should guide their children on how to properly use their backpacks. School officials should also consider toning down the amount of materials they require students to bring every day. They should take in mind that they are responsible not only for the students’ mental and intellectual state but also for their physical condition.

Learn more about Dr. Mary Kneiser by visiting www.abilityassessments.com.