What Are Uses Of Cervical Traction?

Cervical traction has many medical applications. It helps lower compression in the neck, which removes pressure of discs that reside among the spinal bones (vertebrae) of the neck. It can also throw open the area where nerves exit from spinal canal to help relieve pressure from a compressed nerve. Cervical traction can also stretch joint and muscle structures around the neck.

Cervical traction can benefit the following conditions and more:

·         Neck arthritis

·         Bulging or herniated discs in neck

·         Cervical muscle spasms

·         Neck strains

There are different types of cervical traction based on mode of use. The best cervical traction device depends on your need:

·      Manual cervical traction: This type of traction is used manually by the physiotherapist, who holds the head and neck in his hand and applies a pulling force or traction to the neck. He applies rhythmic sessions of pulling and resting, holding each position for ten seconds.

·       Mechanical cervical traction: This traction involves the head and neck being attached to a harness, while patient is in lying down position. The harness is connected to a machine providing traction force. The machine has a control panel with which the Physiotherapist can monitor quantum of force applied.

·    Over the Door Traction: This traction device can be best used at home. It involves strapping a harness to your neck and head, while being seated on a chair. The harness is connected to a rope that is attached to a pulley system on a door. Weights are used to apply traction force like a water bag or sand bag, loaded at the opposite end of the rope.

Generally experts recommend applying a force of around 20 pounds while starting the traction. This traction force must be maintained for 10 to 20 seconds after which it must be released gently. One can increase traction to 30-50 pounds but rhythmic use must break for 10 to 20 seconds.

One can apply traction several times in a day. It is best to consult a qualified professional like a physiotherapist to discuss modalities of the cervical traction plan for you. If you experience aggravation of symptoms like pain, you must inform your doctor, immediately.

How Are Eye Exams Done And The Use Of An Ophthalmoscope?

We all understand the importance of an eye exam. It is something that everyone should get every few years, and especially those who use prescription glasses or contacts.

Now, when you go to the eye doctor, you always see that they first put some eye drops in your eyes and then use a device to look into your eye. That device is called an ophthalmoscope, and it is used to check how the retina, optic disc, and other parts of the eye are doing. 

This is a very important device that is used by every eye doctor, and if you want to buy ophthalmoscope online India then you will not be surprised to find that they are quite easily available at medical equipment stores. If you are new to this field and do not know what the purpose of an ophthalmoscope is, then here is a little information about it.

·      Ophthalmoscopy is an exam that lets a doctor see what is on the inside of the area that is behind the eye and erstwhile structures using a magnifying instrument which is the ophthalmoscope, and a light source.

·         This test is done as an element of an eye exam and may be done as part of a routine physical exam.

·         The back of the eye has a lining of nerve cells called the retina, that notice the images that are seen by the clear, outer covering of the eye called the cornea. The back of the eye also contains blood vessels and the optic nerve.

·        There are two kinds of ophthalmoscopy; direct and indirect. In the former, the doctor makes use of an instrument about the size of a small torch with quite a few lenses that can magnify almost up to 15 times. In the latter, the doctor uses a little handheld lens and either a cut lamp microscope or a headband with a light attached to it. Indirect ophthalmoscopy gives a clearer sight of the back of the eye, even if the cornea is covered with cataracts.

So, now you know what eye exams are and where exactly is an ophthalmoscope used.

What Are Main Types of Weighing Scales?

There are various kinds of weighing scales in the market. The oldest are the analog scales. Today weighing scales have evolved into digital scales, high tech scales, high capacity scales and design minded scales.

 The first type is the weighing scale analog. It is the perfect answer for a wide range of manual applications. They are popular because of their accuracy and low price.

The earliest analog scales were called as balances. These were made of four parts: lever, fulcrum and two pans. The central beam consisted of the fulcrum to which is attached middle of the lever, allowing it to pivot. At each end of the lever are placed, the two pans. When you want to measure weight of an object, it would be kept on one pan and known weights would be placed on the other pan. When lever reached horizontal position, it meant that items in both pans were of equal weight.

Analog scales developed into triple beam balances, double beam balances and hand scales. Another popular development is the analog spring scale. Variants of this type are bathroom floor scales, hanging scales and top loaders. These scales work on the principle that when you impose force on a constant, known spring, it will stretch to a notable, known distance.

To measure using the analog spring machine, one can attach a weight to the spring. When this weight is applied, an indicator will move up and down, along a pre-marked weight measurement. On using the spring concept in the weighing scales, anything from one to four springs can be used. Springs are placed in the corners and on application of force, the springs are stretched and they cause a pre-marked measurement wheel to spin.

Digital scales are an improvement over the analog scales and are simple and accurate. They are operated by batteries and are easily available in stores and online. Some have the capacity to store previous ten readings.

High tech scales are able to delve deeper into the composition of the body than analog or digital scales. 

Several models calculate percentage of body fat by using a tiny electric pulse to distinguish between muscle tissue and fat. Some scales sync readings with one’s smart phones or tablets, updating readings of BMI index and digital weight. Then there are talking weighing scales which suit the visually impaired.

High capacity scales are suited to those with excessive weights of more than standard amounts. Designer scales match the aesthetics of your room like bathrooms. These include teak wood, mirrored and bamboo digital scales.

A Quick Guide on Nebulizers

Nebulizers are breathing machines used to treat respiratory illnesses like asthma and cystic fibrosis. They are used to administer medications in the guise of a mist, inhaled into the lungs. They are more efficient than ordinary inhalers. They are also used to contain side effects of medicines like steroids by reaching the medication straight to the respiratory system.

Types of nebulizers: There are two basic kinds of nebulizers: ultrasonic and atomizer jet. Atomizer is also known as compressor nebulizer and is the most common type of nebulizer. It functions by using an aerosol compressor to create vaporized droplets of medication.

Ultrasonic nebulizers make use of high frequency sound waves to create a breathable version of medication droplets. Though both types of nebulizers are effective, ultrasonic is quicker and works more silently. In case of both types of nebulizers, patients have to inhale via a facemask or a mouth-piece.

 A compressor nebulizer converts liquid medicine into a mist for treating asthma. It comes in two versions: electric or battery operated. They may come in two sizes: one large enough to place on a table and connect to a plug in the wall and another, which is small enough and easy to carry around. 

Both consist of an air compressor, a small container filled with liquid form of medicine and a tube that links medicine container to the air compressor. There is also a mask or a mouth piece meant for inhaling the mist form of medicine.

How does the nebulizer work? Air in pressurized form passes via the tube, converting the liquid medicine to the form of a mist. In the event of an infection or an asthma attack, the mist is more convenient to inhale in comparison to spray of a pocket based inhaler. In case of your airways becoming narrow (as in case of asthma attack), it is difficult to take heavy breaths. Hence, a nebulizer is a better form of inhaling machine than an inhaler for which deep breaths are required.

How to maintain the nebulizer? A nebulizer like Optima compressor nebulizer needs proper care. It should be cleaned after every use and disinfected after any treatment. Because you are breathing in from the instrument, it must be kept especially clean. This is to discourage growth of bacteria. Follow the instructions of the healthcare provider for best results.

There are special nebulizers meant for kids. These are lightweight and have safety features meant for kids. Masks or mouthpieces are so designed to fit the small facial features of kids. The machines are also designed with child friendly shapes like animals, flowers, cartoons, etc.

How to Choose Running Shoes?

 There are several options for running shoes for different individuals. But how do you select the best one for you?

Before selecting the right type of shoes, one must know what the type of one’s foot is. You can consult a shoe specialist or your doctor. You can also figure out the type of your feet on your own. The first way is to examine your foot. Other methods are placing wet feet on paper or running over sand to get an image of your footprint.

There are three main types of feet:

·         Flat feet: While examining g your foot, if you don’t find any arch, you must conclude that you have flat feet. From toes to your heel, the bottom of your foot is completely flat. You can also do a footprint set and your print will appear like a flat shaped image. There will not be any inward curve stretching from your heel to your big toe.

The problem with flat feet is that you are likely to be an over-pronator, implying that your feet will roll inward, while running.

Shoes to suit you? You will require running shoes which maintain your stability. Search for the terms -‘stability’ and ‘motion control’ on the cover of shoes your trying to choose. Apart from such shoes, a few flat footed persons may require to wear orthotics (personalized inserts for shoes for correcting foot issues).To find orthotics, search for medical footwear online.

·         High arched feet: It is quite easy to identify if you have arched feet- you can observe a pronounced arch on your feet. When you do the footprint test, your print will assume a curve and show a skinny shape of the middle part of your foot.

The problem with this type of foot is that you will under-pronate or supinate. This implies that your feet will roll outwards when you run. Runners with high arched feet must regularly re-measure their feet as with the impact of running, arches will begin to fall making their feet appear longer.

To choose running shoes, look for flexible ones having a soft midsole that will absorb shock. While searching for shoes, look for the terms-‘cushioned’ or ‘flexible’ incorporated into their descriptions.

·        Normal or neutral feet: If you have scrutinized your footprint or your foot and it doesn’t appear to be high arched or flat faced, it is likely you have normal or neutral feet. Your foot will have a slight curve, less than three fourth of an inch.

There is no significant problem as long as you pick up a shoe that is not suited to your running style. This is the most common type of foot and is least prone to injury if you wear the right kind of running shoes.

To choose a running shoe for feet of this type, there are many options: one is meant for normal feet or one for slightly arched or slightly flat feet. Avoid picking running shoes, which have lots of motion control or stability.

This is, in sum, the guide to choosing running shoes.