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HealthWays
G
et a jump-start on your holiday shopping at the
Gift Shop
in the
lobby of ValleyCare Medical Center, Pleasanton.
With new fall and holiday merchandise arriving every day,
you’re bound to nd something for everyone on your list, even for yourself!
Ours is a well-stocked gift shop with beautiful and fun home décor, baby
and gift items; jewelry; scarves; holiday decorating ideas; and more.
SUPPORT VALLEYCARE
The Gift Shop is open to the public, and by shopping here you are
supporting your local, community hospital. Revenues generated by the Gift
Shop go directly to the programs and services at ValleyCare Health System.
RunningAnalysis
PROGRAM
A
ccording to North American Seminars Inc. and the
British Journal of Sports Medicine
, nearly 37.8 million
people run for exercise each year. This includes just over
500,000 marathon nishers, with an average age of 38.
Up to 65 percent of runners experience an injury annually. If training
for a marathon, this number can be as high as 90 percent.
Up to 60 percent of running injuries can be attributed to correctable
training errors. These injuries are often directly related to poor body
mechanics caused by inef cient gait, improper landing patterns,
incorrect footwear, improper training schedules or muscle imbalances.
Fortunately, all of these can be prevented with the right instruction.
ValleyCare Physical and Sports Medicine is offering a running
evaluation for runners of all skill levels. Biomechanical analysis, in
combination with a brief musculoskeletal assessment, can be used to
prevent and address many injury and performance issues.
Evaluations are performed by a licensed physical therapist.
Whether you are an avid/experienced runner or a beginner/novice
looking to begin running without injury or complication, this
program can help.
SESSIONS INCLUDE
The initial 60-minute session includes the following:
Biomechanical assessment
Slow-motion video running analysis
Individualized running instruction
Footwear assessment and recommendations
Musculoskeletal screening—strength, exibility, balance
Postural/alignment assessment
Training volume recommendations
Additional, follow-up sessions of 30 minutes are also available. Fee
for the initial visit is $150 with optional 30-minute follow-up visits for
an additional $75.
According to Patrick Aguiar, PT, DPT, CSCS, instructor for the
Running Analysis Program, “Running isn’t bad for you...bad running
is bad for you....Come learn to run well.”
The Running Analysis Program at ValleyCare
works! Just ask avid runner Rick Stulen, age
65, of Livermore.
“The analysis helped me develop a better
cadence and landing pattern for my feet,”
he says.“This translated to a more efficient
way to run.”
Seeing how Stulen is a long-distance
runner and regularly participates in 10K
runs, half marathons and team relays of
200 miles, this was indeed time well spent.
Stulen has been running for about
35 years. As he says,“Physical activity was
always a part of my life. I grew up in a
family that always stressed the importance
of staying active, and it’s stuck with me.”
However, he will also say that all that
running does put extra stress and strain on
your ligaments and joints, and eventually
something gives. In Stulen’s case it was
a badly pulled hamstring he got while
training for a half marathon. He’s not a
speed demon, as he says, but wanted to
get himself to a nine-minute mile and was
doing interval training, which involved
running as fast he could for a quarter of a
mile, then slowing down. During one of the
fast portions, he pulled his hamstring.
After a visit with ValleyCare Orthopedic
surgeon Stephen Viess, MD, Stulen started
physical therapy for the hamstring. It was
his therapist who recommended he try
the Running Analysis Program offered at
ValleyCare.
RunningAnalysisHelped
Once he completed his physical therapy,
Stulen signed up for the 60-minute session.
“It was very thorough and included a
computer program that analyzed my gait,”
he says.“While my gait is fairly neutral,
which is good, it did show that I was
coming down on my heel first with my leg
extended. This puts more stress on my legs.”
Patrick Aguiar, PT, DPT, CSCS, the
ValleyCare physical therapist who worked
with Stulen, helped him develop a new
landing pattern and cadence that made
Stulen’s running more efficient.“It felt very
awkward at first because it was new,”says
Stulen.“But it has helped tremendously and
I plan to do some follow-up sessions. I use
less energy now, have no leg or joint issues
and have much more endurance, which
is great. I hope it will help me continue
running well into my 80s!”
KICK START YOUR
BECOME A VOLUNTEER
The Gift Shop is staffed by the ValleyCare
Auxiliary. If you would like to join this team
of dedicated women and men, please visit
valleycare.com/auxiliary
or call the Auxiliary
information line at
925-734-3368
.
HOURS
Tuesday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm
Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 3 pm
Running: AWay of Life
The Running Analysis Program is o ered
by appointment, through ValleyCare
Physical and Sports Medicine Services at the
LifeStyleRx location, 1119 E. Stanley Blvd.,
Livermore. No referral needed. Call
925 373 4019
today.
Long-term or controller medicines
help keep the airways open and can
prevent asthma symptoms from aring
up. A child can have in amed airways
anytime, not just when he or she has
are-ups or symptoms. These medicines
come in both inhaled and pill form and
need to be used daily as advised by your
doctor. These medicines reduce the
chance that your child will have to go to
the emergency room or be hospitalized.
Your child might get confused about
taking medications when he or she is
feeling well. To help:
Develop a routine for your child,
such as at bedtime or when getting
ready for school.
Set up a reward system, such as
awarding points for each day
medication is taken. Your child then
earns rewards based on the points.
Make sure your child understands
what long-term controllers do and
don’t do.
Explain the use of these medications
to caregivers.
Fast-relief or are-up medicines
can help control asthma symptoms
when they occur. Even when asthma
appears to be controlled, are-ups
can happen. Learn to recognize your
child’s symptoms and teach him or her
to recognize these symptoms as well.
Your child should carry a quick-relief
inhaler throughout the day and use it
as directed.
“It’s important to follow your
doctor’s advice on the proper use of
asthma medications,” says DaLuz.
“Parents need to stay on top of
prevention by ensuring that medicines
are taken as prescribed, that they know
what is normal for their child’s peak
ow meter readings and they can help
their child avoid his or her triggers.”
ASTHMA EMERGENCY
Most of the time, you can treat
asthma are-ups with the appropriate
medication. But if your child has
trouble walking or talking because he
or she can’t breathe or develops blue
lips or ngernails, call 911 immediately.
Sources:AmericanAcademy of Allergy,
Asthma & Immunology; National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute;
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
—Continued from front page
TAKING CONTROL
OF ASTHMA
To nd a doctor that’s right
for you and your child, visit
valleycare.com
and click on“Find
a Physician.”
Rick Stulen used the Running Analysis
Program to stay on track and improve
his stride.
