Muscular system

• Choking in these patients can cause pneumonia, lung infections, sepsis, and eventually death, so it should not be overlooked by patients and caregivers.
• "One of the problems for the elderly is incomplete swallowing, and there is some food residue remaining in the oral cavity.
• Ensure that the patient is mindful of eating and drinking water, concentrating on eating and swallowing all the food.
• Anti-choke mugs – help ease swallowing, reducing the chance of choking
  As behavioral changes for swallowing is difficult for both patients and caregivers, the research team then developed an "anti-choke mug" to help patients drink water safely.

• PENSACOLA, Fla., Oct. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Regenative Labs (Regenative), a leading HCT/P manufacturer, announces the publication of a case study demonstrating new care advancements using its Wharton's Jelly allografts in the supplementation of Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) defects.
• The case study titled "Single-Center Retrospective Study of Flowable Umbilical Cord Tissue Allograft Application in Temporomandibular Joint Defects: An Investigative Study," was published by Walsh Medical Media and can be accessed in its entirety here.
• After one application of Regenative's Wharton's Jelly allograft, the patient's pain improved by an average of 75% after 90 days.
• "A few years ago, we started using PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) therapy in the jaw joint, and we thought that was revolutionary.

• We’re off somewhere different – perhaps a holiday, maybe to catch up with friends or family.
• But by its very definition, a long-haul flight involves travelling for a long period of time, often more than 12 hours.
• If you’re on a flight from New York to Singapore, it can be close to 19 hours.

Accept the situation

• Humans are just not well designed to sleep in an almost upright position.
• This, plus findings from many other lab-based studies, tells us that even a short amount of light sleep has benefits.
• Also, we’re not great at judging how much sleep we’ve had, particularly if our sleep is light and broken.

Time your sleep and drinks

• Assuming you’re adjusted to the time zone the flight departs from, daytime flights will make sleep on board much harder, whereas nighttime flights make sleep easier.
• All humans have a circadian (24-hour) time-keeping system, which programs us for sleep at night and wakefulness during the day.
• On the other hand, alcohol makes us feel sleepy, but it interferes with our brains’ ability to have REM sleep (also known as dreaming sleep).

What about taking melatonin or other drugs?

• Some people find taking a sleeping tablet or melatonin can help on a plane.
• Before taking sleeping medication or melatonin you should see your doctor, and only take what’s prescribed for you.
• Taking melatonin in your biological afternoon and evening will shift your circadian time-keeping system east (or earlier) and taking it toward the end of your biological night and in your biological morning will shift the circadian time-keeping system west (or later).

Prepare your clothes and accessories

• Be prepared so you can create the best possible sleep situation within the constraints of an aircraft seat.
• Light and noise disturb sleep, so pack eye shades and earplugs (or a noise cancelling headset) to block these out.
• Practice with eye shades and earplugs at home, as it can take a few sleeps to get used to them.

Don’t try to force it

• When you feel sleepy, you can try going back to sleep, but don’t get stressed or worried about getting enough sleep.
• Our brains are very good at sleeping – trust that your body will catch you up when it can.

• The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup starts today, and more teams are taking part than ever before.
• The number of women and girls playing soccer around the world has also increased from about five million in 2014 to more than 13 million in 2019.
• This greater participation in soccer over the years has led to an increase in injuries, including concussions.

What is concussion?

• But it can also happen after being hit on the body, causing a whiplash-type motion to the head.
• Most soccer players return to play within four weeks of a concussion.
• Although an estimated 10% of players (particularly women) will have persisting symptoms lasting several months.

When the ball hits the head

• Heading the ball, when players intentionally use their heads to redirect the ball, is unique to soccer.
• But concussion is more likely after the ball hits the head accidentally.
• Regardless of whether such an impact is intentional, there is increasing concern that players exposed to repeated head impacts in soccer, including from headers, are more at risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia, in later life.

Are women more at risk?

• In soccer, and other sports where men and women participate under the same rules, women appear to have much higher rates of concussion compared to men.
• For every 1,000 hours of playing or practising soccer, there are about 1.5 concussions for women compared with 1.0 for men.
• Women report greater number of symptoms, increased symptom intensity and greater time lost from sport after a concussion.

1. Neck strength

Women soccer players generally have weaker neck muscles than men. This may place them at higher risk of concussion if they cannot engage these muscles to stabilise their head if it is hit by another head, body or the ball.

Read more:
Sports concussions affect men and women differently. Female athletes need more attention in brain research

2. Hormones

• The female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone may protect women from sustaining a concussion.
• However, the research is too limited to speculate further on the role of sex hormones.

3. Training

• Adolescent players without this training are more likely to report concussion.
• Most concussions in soccer occur when two players compete to head the ball.
• So training players to safely head the ball should include how to position the body to minimise the risk of injury and keeping the eyes open to track the ball’s trajectory to prepare for ball-to-head contact.

How do we reduce the risk?

Guidelines published last month aim to reduce the numbers of headers in soccer. These approaches are also likely to decrease the number of header duels, a common mechanism of concussion, as well as the long-term risks associated with ball-to-head impacts. Recommended strategies include:
• So now is the ideal time to explore strategies that keep all soccer’s positive benefits while minimising the risk to current and future generations of players.
• She has previously been a Contract Physiotherapist for Cricket Australia, Hobart Hurricanes WBBL, Singapore Sports Council and the WTA.