03 Mar 2011  

Cancer Therapies May Affect Balance, According to New Study in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation The combined effects of chemotherapy and endocrine therapy may increase the risk of bone fractures in breast cancer survivors. In a study scheduled for publication in the April issue of the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, researchers from the Oregon Health & Science University Knight Cancer Institute, Portland, asked post-menopausal breast cancer survivors whether they had fallen in the past year and then tracked their falls over a six-month study period. They found evidence that women who have survived breast cancer may fall more often than their peers.

"Our study is the first to consider how breast cancer treatment may increase fall risk by using a comprehensive set of objective measures of fall risk and by exploring mediators of the treatment-falls relationship," commented Kerri M. Winters-Stone, PhD, Associate Professor and Associate Scientist, Oregon Health & Science University, School of Nursing and a member of the Knight Cancer Institute. "Our findings suggest that recently treated postmenopausal breast cancer survivors have higher rates of falling compared with population averages for community-dwelling older adults. Balance disturbances may explain how treatment could have contributed to falls in breast cancer survivors." 

Investigators found that 58% of breast cancer survivors had experienced a fall in the previous year and almost half (47%) fell within 6 months after joining the study, a rate nearly double the 25% to 30% annual fall rate reported for community-dwelling older adults over 65 years of age. 

Researchers measured a comprehensive set of neuromuscular and balance characteristics known to be associated with falls in 59 study participants. They found that only balance discriminated breast cancer survivors who fell from those who did not. The study findings also suggest that the balance problems may have been related to changes in the vestibular system that were associated with chemotherapy treatment. 

Professor Winters-Stone stated, "Falls in breast cancer survivors are understudied and deserve more attention, particularly in light of the increase in fractures after breast cancer treatment and the relationship of falls to fractures. Our findings add to growing evidence that fall risk is increased in breast cancer survivors and that vestibular function may underpin associations between breast cancer treatment and falls." 

Citation:

"Identifying Factors Associated With Falls in Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Survivors: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach" 
Kerri M. Winters-Stone, PhD, Britta Torgrimson, PhD, Fay Horak, PhD, PT, Alvin Eisner, PhD, Lillian Nail, PhD, RN, Michael C. Leo, PhD, Steve Chui, MD, and Shiuh-Wen Luoh, MD. 
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 92, Issue 4 (April 2011). doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2010.10.039

Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/217839.php

Friday Morning at 9:20am: At this time, our Manahawkin location is open.  But Elisheva reports travel on Route 72 is difficult.  If you elect to attend your appointment, please drive with great care.  Due to the large number of cancellations this morning, we have elected to open our Toms River location at approximately 11:00am.  This will allow the landscapers to hopefully clear the parking lot.  If there are any changes, we will note them here.

Friday Morning at 7:00 am:  At this time, we anticipate opening for regular business hours.  However my street has not been plowed.  Please call ahead to ensure we are indeed open.  Travel safely.  Please stay tuned to this website for any further updates.

Thursday Evening 7:20pm: Some sources are indicating yet another round of heavy snow tonight.  We will be updating this website tomorrow morning by 7am to indicate any potential change in scheduling for tomorrow (Friday).  Let's hope the weather cuts us all a break and we escape any additional significant accumulation.  We hope everyone is warm and safe in their homes this evening.  This will be a winter to remember!

Thursday at 11:20am:  One additional note, the parking lot is still snow and slush filled with about 4-5 inches of accumulation.  They are currently working on clearing the lot, but are unsure as to when it will be completed.  If you are concerned about being able to navigate the parking lot, please call to reschedule.  Otherwise we look forward to seeing you at your normal scheduled time.

Thursday at 10:41am Toms River Location ONLY:  I have made my way to the office and as it stands now, barring significantly worsening conditions we WILL be open today for normally scheduled operating hours.  If you are unable to keep your appointment due to road conditions in your neighborhood, please call to reschedule.  We are currently evaluating being open on Saturday to accommodate patients who are unable to keep their appointments today.

Major roadways are now currently wet with some slush accumulation but are drivable.  It is possible conditions could worsen as the day progresses based on current weather projections.  If you do decide to venture out, please drive safely.

Thursday at 8:21am - As it stands right now heavy snow is falling and due to the weather conditions, Future Physical Therapy in Manahawkin will be closed today.  We are currently calling patients scheduled for today to reschedule to Friday.

A decision for our Toms River location is still pending and we expect to make a final decision around 10:30am.

Let's hope the weather folks are wrong and all we will get is rain.  

1:30 pm Wednesday update:  Due to the deteriorating weather conditions expected to even worsen as this afternoon goes on, we will be closing at 4pm.  We are currently calling the few remaining patients on the schedule to re-schedule their appointments.  Let's hope tomorrow is a better day!

7:00 am update:  

It is still rain to a wintry mix.  We will be opening at our regularly scheduled 8:30 am.  Please stay tuned to this webpage for further updates.  A blizzard warning remains in effect.  If conditions worsen it is possible we will be forced to close later in the day.

Wednesday Morning, February 10, 2010 at 6:30 am

It is currently raining, watching the weather forecast which is still predicting heavy snow with a blizzard warning.  Will make a decision regarding the schedule by 7:30 am.  Please stay tuned to the website.

Tuesday Night February 9, 2010 at 9:24 pm

The snow has commenced and is falling moderately heavy.  At this time no decision has been made regarding any potential closing or delays for our Toms River location.  Please return to this page for further updates.  

(Commentary: This is getting rather ridiculous.  This isn't supposed to happen at the Jersey Shore)

Image via Wikipedia

While it is said often that “Laughter is the best medicine” this story from the New York Times demonstrates that perhaps the best medicine is in fact EXERCISE.

Phys Ed: How Exercising Keeps Your Cells Young - Well Blog - NYTimes.com

The article describes how recent research has shown that exercising keeps cells young by preventing shortening of their telomeres.  Physical Therapists are well educated in helping you to create a personalized and individualized exercise program that will help to improve your strength, endurance and flexibility so that you can fully participate in the important activities in your life whether they be work or play.

Your Physical Therapist at Future Physical Therapy, PC will be more than happy to help you achieve your fitness objectives.  All you need to do is contact us and make an appointment.

Therapy benefit cap looms over patients and providers as healthcare bill stalled - TheHill.com

Sunday at 12:14 pm:  At this time it appears we will be open for our regularly scheduled business hours.

Please monitor this post as we will post any information here related to any potential weather related schedule changes or closing for Monday, February 8th, 2010 due to weather conditions related to the pending blizzard conditions expected.

As of the posting of this information we currently anticipate being open for our normal business hours on Monday, February 8th, 2010.

While much of the course was devoted to rehabilitation of the post-surgical Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstructed knee the information also had significant relevance to many of the other knee conditions that we see for rehabilitation.  Some of these conditions include the patellofemoral or anterior knee pain patient, menisectomy and meniscus repairs, total knee replacements or the arthritic or unstable knee.  If you have any of these conditions, you can be certain that the care you will be provided is based on the most current and effective information available so that you can return to your normal active lifestyle.

As always, the therapists at Future Physical Therapy are always available to answer any questions you may have regarding your rehabilitation needs.