Cardiac rehabilitation is a customized program of a specifically designed exercise program  and education, designed to help you recover after a heart attack, from other forms of heart disease or after surgery to treat heart disease.

Cardiac rehabilitation is often divided into phases that involve supervised progressive exercise protocols, nutritional counseling (dietitians), emotional support (Psychologists) if needed and support and education about lifestyle changes to reduce your risks of  futher heart problems. The goals of cardiac rehabilitation are to help you regain optimal physical functionality and strength, to prevent your condition from worsening and to reduce your risk of future heart problems.

Cardiac rehabilitation programs increase your chances of survival. Both the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology recommend cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Health and productivity management is essential in today's corporate environment. Many recent studies have shown that healthier employees equate to a healthier bottom line and thus corporations have started to implement some level of Workplace Health Program. But as health-care costs continue to soar and take a larger bite out of company profits, WHP inevitably will become a key cost-containment strategy for most small-to-medium corporations as well.
Costs incurred by the company include the following to  name but a few: Unnecessary health-service use, Absenteeism due to high-risk lifestyle behaviors, Productivity loss etc.
Typical risk factors targeted include:

• High Cholesterol levels,
• Smoking,
• High blood pressure,
• Obesity/high body fat and,
• Lack of exercise,
• Stress

Corporate wellness focusses of determining a company’s health profile.  Management and staff health assessments  are done to determine health status, risk factors and lifestyle habits. This in conjunction with dietary profiles provides comprehensive information valuable in wellness intervention strategies.

Biokineticists work as part of a multi-professional team to individualize the program for your company and determine the best possible strategies to be employed to ensure optimal productivity and health of your employees.

Assessment in the form of team or individual performance testing is used to gage the level of fitness, skill, agility, speed, power etc.  Intervention programs are then developed to improve elements that tested below the norm or that needs to be specifically improved for optimal performance in a specific sport.

Sport science is employed as discipline that studies the application of scientific principles and techniques with the aim of improving sporting performance.

 

Some Biokineticists are qualified to use and apply kinesio tape.  Below you can find some information about the uses and benefits of it's use as described on the “Kinesio taping Canada” website.

What Does Kinesio Taping Do?

Kinesio Taping gives support and stability to your joints and muscles without affecting circulation and range of motion. It is also used for Preventive Maintenance, Edema, and Pain Management.

Kinesio Taping is a technique based on the body's own natural healing process. This Kinesio Taping exhibits its efficacy through the activation of neurological and circulatory systems. This method basically stems from the science of Kinesiology, hence the name "Kinesio". Muscles are not only attributed to the movements of the body but also control the circulation of venous and lymph flows, body temperature, etc. Therefore, the failure of the muscles to function properly induces various kinds of symptoms.

Consequently, so much attention was given to the importance of muscle function that the idea of treating the muscles in order to activate the body's own healing process came about. Using an elastic tape, it was discovered that muscles and other tissues could be helped by outside assistance. Employment of Kinesio Taping creates a totally new approach to treating nerves, muscles, and organs. The first application of Kinesio Taping was for a patient with articular disorders.

For the first 10 years, orthopedists, chiropractors, acupuncturists and other medical practitioners were the main users of Kinesio Taping. Soon thereafter, Kinesio Taping was used by the Japanese Olympic volleyball players and word quickly spread to other athletes. Today, Kinesio Taping is accepted by medical practitioners and athletes in Japan, United States, Europe, South America and other Asian and African counties.

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Through thorough assessment, education and prescription of scientifically based supervised exercise programs, preventative lifestyle modification strategies are employed to lower mortality in patients with high risk for cardiovascular disease.

Many recent studies have shown the risk reversal effect that physical therapy has on risk factors for cardiovascular disease including:

• Hypertension (High Blood pressure)
• Type 1 & 2 Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Obesity
• Stress & Depression

A multi-disciplinary approach is crucial to ensure the best outcome.  A longterm lifestyle adjustment with the help of Doctors, Dietitians and other medical professionals plays and integral role in preventing heart attack and stroke.

Orthopeadic rehabilitation focused on restoring function to the muscular and skeletal systems. Biokinetics concerns it's self with the various types of disorders and injuries affecting our muscles, bones, and joints while discovering the important role physical therapy plays in managing orthopeadic conditions.

The biokineticist focuses on restoring function and reducing the risk of  future injury or degeneration.  Scientifically designed protocols are used for each specific condition to progressively increase functional ability.  Exercise programs are individually designed for each patient to ensure optimal restoration of functional ability and is supervised to complesion.

Conditions include:

• Amputations
• Muscular/ligament strain,
• Joint replacement
• Post operative ligament reconstruction
• Osteo-/rhuematoid arthritis,
• Osteoporosis,
• Cervical and lumbar dysfunction (Upper back/neck & lower back pain),
• Neurological problems,
• Spinal cord injuries,
• Stroke.

Childhood Obesity is becoming a major concern today.  Children are less active due to less time spend outside.  This is due to various causes, some of which are things like, less required sport participation, safety concerns and today's TV and and video game culture.

The lack of physical conditioning amongst children also lends itself to under developed motor skills, muscular strength, endurance, balance and coordination.  These factors have a huge impact on academic achievement, sport participation and achievement, concentration, weight management and self image.

The Biokineticist addresses the specific needs of children of different ages in order to improve their physical profile.  We work in conjunction with various other professions including Occupational therapists, Doctors, Dietitians and many more to ensure the optimal physical development of your child.

 

Physical Selection is a scientific assessment of the workplace to place  manual laborers in specific areas based on their physical attributes. The job description of a specific occupation requires specific physical characteristics to ensure the worker’s ability to perform the task at hand successfully and productively.

The aim is to reduces the risk of injury to employees in order to create a healthier workforce with less absenteeism. Employers are then able to measure the workers suitability for a specific task.

The process  starts by the assessing the facility and various tasks that need to be performed within this facility. Based upon the results of this assessment the physical components required to perform these tasks are identified. The aim is to create an environment that is safe, more productive and less time consuming, with employees that experience more work setisfaction.

Ergonomics is also considered part of physical selection and focuses on the office worker.  It is defined as the science of designing the job, equipment, and workplace to fit the worker. Proper ergonomic design is necessary to prevent repetitive strain injuries, which can develop over time and can lead to long-term disability.

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BENEFITS OF VIBRATION THRAPY

This article is aimed at Power Plate or similar Vibration Machines, NOT the Vibration units you can buy for home use at your local sports store.

(Download the document called “PowerPlate vs Other Vibration Machines” for more info)

Probably the most talked about form of exercise of late is vibration training; the training system that can accelerate weight loss and body toning. But there is far more to this celebrity-endorsed fitness program than that.

Increased Muscle Stimulation

Muscles will generally contract once or twice every second, but on a vibration plate this can increase to 30-50 contractions per second. Oscillating or pivotal vibration plate training stimulates muscles to contract alternately which helps to develop balance, coordination and even-form when standing, walking, and exercising or even swinging a golf club.

Any form of vibration plate training will stimulate circulation and induce involuntary muscle contractions. Stimulated circulation will improve lymphatic flow, decrease blood pressure, increase blood oxygenation and boost energy levels. Users also stand a good chance of combating cellulite.

Conventional exercise engages around 40% of muscle fibers; involuntary muscle contractions engage approximately 97% of muscle fibers, thus raising the ceiling on fitness potential.

Beating Back and Joint Pain

The rhythmic movement of the vibration gently mobilizes the pelvis, activating and developing core pelvic and torso muscles. The snake-like movement of the vibro plates repeats throughout your spinal vertebrae, thus mobilizing your spine and clearing stagnant fluids, reducing inflammation and allowing in the influx of fresh oxygenated blood to enter.

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