Iowa DOT Asks Iowans to Put Safety First
Posted
4
February
2010
A series of winter
storms this year has caused many Iowans to become stranded or their
vehicles to run off the road. No one can predict when he or she might
become the next victim of bad weather, but we can all be prepared just
in case.
It can happen to you. The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) has
developed a short video that identifies the basic necessities that you
should carry in your vehicle, and describes what you should do if you
become stranded.
To survive, stay inside your vehicle and use the resources in your
survival kit. Do not attempt to walk for help or try to remove your
vehicle from the snow.
Don’t put if off any longer. Now is the time to assemble your survival
kit. Learn what to carry and tips to survive by watching this new video
at http://www.iowadot.gov/ or http://www.youtube.com/iowadot
Mentoring Day on the Hill in Des Moines
Posted
1
February
2010
Thursday, January
28th was celebrated as Mentoring Day on the Hill in Des Moines.
Three Helping Services Mentoring Coordinators, Kathy Schwartzhoff, Rosa
Grant, and Jill Hollowell met with Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm and
Representative John Beard to discuss the importance of mentoring.
Photo Caption: Left to Right: Kathy Schwartzhoff, Senator
Mary Jo Wilhelm, Jill Hollowell, and Rosa Grant.
Treating Headaches with Physical Therapy
Posted
27
January
2010
By Travis Gunderson,
Physical Therapy Student
Regis University, Denver, CO visiting Veterans Memorial Hospital
Physical Therapy Department
Headaches can be a real pain in the neck. They are an almost universal
complaint with 90% of Americans having experienced at least one bout of
head pain in their past. Approximately 45 million people in the United
States suffer from chronic headaches, costing billions of dollars in
treatment expense and lost worker productivity every year, not to
mention, decreased quality of life.
The upper cervical spine (neck) is a complex region of the spine,
biomechanically and anatomically. Dysfunction in this region is common
and is a frequent cause of headache. While there is no single treatment
that can eliminate every headache, all types are treatable. Physical
therapy offers non-medication treatment with a focus on restoring
function, improving mobility, relieving pain, and promoting healthy
lifestyle changes for long-term benefits.
Physical therapy treatment for headaches can help:
-
Reduce
the
amount
of
medicine
taken
for
headaches.
-
Decrease
total
pain
index.
-
Decrease
headache
severity,
frequency,
and
duration.
-
Increase
neck
range
of
motion.
Headaches are
classified as either primary or secondary. Primary headaches, occur
when the headache problem is the disorder, while secondary headaches
occur as a result of another condition such as stroke, infection, brain
tumor, or head injury. Primary headaches can further be categorized as
the following three main types:
Cervicogenic Headache which originate on one side of the neck or
back of the head and travel up the head above the ears; often
resembling a “ram’s horn.” Symptoms increase with neck movement,
sustained neck postures, or with pressure between the back of the head
and top of the neck.
Tension Type Headache which are typified by a constircting “vice-like”
ache felt in the head, neck, and jaw muscualture. Contibuting factors
may include anxiety, fatigue, caffeine, nicotine, chewing, yawning, or
talking.
Migraine Headache which are usually characterized by throbbing pain on
one or both sides of the head, with a combination of nausea, vomiting,
and sensitivity to light and/or noise. About 15% of migraine sufferers
experience an aura such as vision changes or disruption in taste, smell
or touch, as a precursor to an attack. Almost three times as many women
as men are afflicted by migraines and 60% of the time there are also
complaints of neck pain.
The key to creating an effective treatment plan for patients with
headache pain is a thorough interview and physical examination.
Analyzing the information from the interview and exam allows the
physical therapist to design a unique and effective treatment plan, to
address the specific headache conditions of each patient. Several
different methods of treatment are outlined below:
-
Spinal
manipulation
–
low
amplitude,
high
velocity
soft
tissue
stretch
performed in areas of the neck or upper back which demonstrate limited
motion.
-
Neck
mobilization
–
manual
technique
used
to
gently
move
joints of the
neck; often accompanied by contraction of muscles to increase
effectiveness.
-
Strengthening
–
increasing
muscle
strength
in
the
neck,
chest,
upper
back, and shoulder.
-
Stretching
–
increasing
range
of
motion
to
tight
muscles
in the neck,
chest, and upper back.
-
Posture
education
–
improving
overall
spinal
posture,
reducing
stress,
and
increasing body awareness.
-
Exercise
education
–
increasing
movement
to
promote
normal
neck
mechanics
and movement to minimize pain.
Evidence-based
research reports several benefits of physical therapy for the treatment
of headaches:
-
A
skilled
manual
physical
therapist
is
trained
to
find
and treat
movement restrictions associated with cervicogenic headaches. Studies
have shown that manipulative therapy and exercise reduce the symptoms
of cervicogenic headaches and these positive effects are maintained
over time.
-
Evidence
indicates
that
both
neck
exercise
(low-intensity
endurance
training)
and
spinal manipulation are effective in reducing headache
intensity and frequency in the short and long-term.
-
Evidence
reveals
that
spinal
manipulation
is
effective
in
the
short-term
in improving pain in comparison to massage or placebo spinal
manipulation.
-
For
migraine
headache,
spinal
manipulation
may
be
an
effective
treatment
option with a short-term effect similar to that of a commonly
used, effective drug (amitriptyline). There were fewer side effects
with spinal manipulation.
-
For
the
treatment
of
chronic
tension-type
headache,
evidence
shows
that
spinal manipulation appears superior to a commonly used drug by
providing a sustained short-term effect after cessation of treatment
Thankfully less than
5% of all headaches are considered potentially life threatening. The
National Headache Foundation (www.headaches.org)
advises
you
to
consult
your
healthcare
provider
immediately
if
your
headache is:
- Sudden and severe
- Occurs with a fever
- Includes significant
neck stiffness with uncontrollable vomiting
If you are over 50
years of age, or, your headache occurs after trauma or includes bouts
of confusion or a loss of consciousness; prompt medical evaluation is
strongly encouraged.
Consult with your medical provider about the benefits of physical
therapy for your headaches. Your provider can refer you to your
local rehabilitation department for these treatments. For more
information, please call the Veterans Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation
Department at 568-3411.
Caption:
Pictured is Amy Robinson, PT, Rehab Director at Veterans Memorial
Hospital, performing neck and headache therapy treatments with patient
Amanda Ward of Waukon. Physical therapy treatment is available
locally for headaches and can help reduce the amount of medicine taken
for headaches, decrease total pain index, decrease headache severity,
frequency, and duration, and increase neck range of motion.
Farm to School Team Teachers Trained
Posted
25
January
2010
High school students
from Postville recently participated in a training coordinated by Iowa
State University Extension at Luther College. The training
prepared students for their role as cross-age teachers in the Farm to
School program which will begin in January.
The high school age team teachers will facilitate Farm to School
lessons with second grade students once a month using folios developed
specifically for northeast Iowa. The folios feature a different
local food each month and provide information for parents and
students.
The following Postville High School students are Farm to School Team
Teachers: Hannah Radloff, Whitney Deering, Mariah Mostaert,
Amanda Lage, Kristine Schissel, Dallas Imoehl, John Schutte, and Rey
Mucia . Ms. Cici Mueller serves as the youth coach for the
program. In addition to participating in the recent training, she
will also be in the classroom to support and supervise the team
teachers.
Vanette Grover, 4-H and Youth Development Specialist with Iowa State
University Extension, provides support for the Northeast Iowa Farm to
School program.
This Farm to School project is part of the Northeast Iowa Food and
Fitness Initiative (FFI). It is partially funded through the W.
K. Kellogg Foundation Food & Community program and the Leopold
Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Six school districts
are Farm to School pilot sites. The focus of Northeast Iowa’s
Farm to School chapter involves three interdependent components--
education, food service, and school gardens. For more information
about Farm to School or the FFI, visit www.iowafoodandfitness.org.
Blanchard Discusses Marketing Strategies
for Produce
Posted
14
January
2010
Chris
Blanchard
was
the
featured speaker at a recent workshop in Calmar
hosted by the Northeast Iowa Food & Farm Coalition (NIFF) and the
Oneota Community Food Coop. Over 40 people listened as Blanchard
talked about his experience working with produce buyers, pricing
product for wholesale markets, and quality assurance.
Blanchard owns and
operates Rock Spring Farm, on the state line between
Decorah, Iowa, and Spring Grove, MN. Rock Spring Farm offers CSA shares
to 200 shareholders, and provides organic herbs and vegetables to
natural foods grocers and a wholesale distributor in the Twin Cities,
Rochester, and Decorah. For more information about the NIFF
Coalition, visit www.iowafreshfood.com.
Two New 'Wild' License Plates
Revealed
Posted
12
January
2010
Two
new
Iowa
license
plates
to
help
fund
natural
resources
will
be
available
for
purchase
at
county
treasurers'
offices this spring. The
plates were unveiled by Lt. Gov. Patty Judge Saturday at the State
Capitol during the Resource Enhancement And Protection (REAP) Congress.
The two new designs,
featuring a brook trout and a deer, will attract
two of the largest groups of Iowan outdoor enthusiasts, anglers and
deer hunters, said Ross Harrison, DNR REAP coordinator. The license
plates were designed by Cedar Rapids artist Greg Bordignon. At a
purchase price of $45, and annual renewal of $25 for the numbered
plates, the REAP program receives $35 from each purchase and $10 from
renewals. The DNR's Wildlife Diversity program gets $10 from the
purchase and $15 from renewals.
The two new plates
join three others dedicated to those natural
resource programs: the goldfinch/rose, pheasant and eagle plates which
together generate about $1 million a year and outsell all of the
state's other specialty plates. Bordignon also designed the current
pheasant and eagle plates.
Harrison predicted
the two new plates may double the current income
within two years because of the popularity of the designs. "The brook
trout is Iowa's only native trout, and is the best indicator of water
quality of any fish species."
REAP provides funding
to cities, counties and state conservation
efforts, as well as to landowners and conservation organizations and
individuals. Currently funded at $18 million in appropriations from
state gaming revenues, the license plate income is added on top of that
amount. REAP's public participation component includes a congress every
two year for citizen input into running the program.
The DNR's nongame
wildlife program uses its license plate revenue to
match federal money for projects dealing with wildlife that are not
hunted or fished, and therefore not managed by use of hunting and
fishing license revenue.
Resource
Enhancement
And
Protection,
plate
information
Cool Internet Video
Posted
11
January
2010
The
24/7
Network
is
proud
to
present
a
new
feature
for
2010.
It
will
not
come
as
a surprise that the crew at JJC Media spends a lot of time
on the internet. We come across a lot of really cool stuff and
will share it with you using a couple of new features: Cool Internet
Video and Cool Internet Tools. If you come across cool things to
share please let us know at jjcmedia@jjcmedia.com.
Today's Cool Internet
Video: Kseniya Simonova is a Ukrainian
artist who just won Ukraine's version of "America's Got Talent." She
uses a giant light box, dramatic music, imagination and "sand painting"
skills to interpret Germany's invasion and occupation of Ukraine during
WWII.
Order Your Luther College License Plate
Today
Posted 5 January 2010
Renew your Iowa
license plates and replace them with a Luther College
plate this year! You may purchase your Luther College plates (including
personalized plates) for yourself or as a gift for someone else. Gift
certificates will be mailed to the purchaser.
Numbered Plate Fee:
$25
$5 annual validation
fee
Annual registration
fee
Personalized Plate
Fee: $50
$5 Annual validation
fee
Annual registration
fee
For More Information:
View the Private College & University Specialty
Plate form.
Applications may also
be obtained from your county
treasurer's office or from the following address:
Office of Vehicle
Services
P.O. Box 9278
Des Moines, IA
50306-9278
Telephone:
515-237-3110
E-Mail: vehser@dot.state.ia.us
Your plates will be
sent to your county treasurer's office and they
will notify you when your plates are ready. Plates must be assigned to
a vehicle within 90 days or the plates will be voided and no refund
issued. Your current plates must be exchanged for your new plates.
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