A dance studio in Brooklyn teaches a dance class designed for patients with Parkinson's disease. WUSTL scientists report a study that shows Parkinson's patients who took part in regular dance classes showed significant improvements in balance and mobility compared with those who did conventional exercise.

References:

1. Nov. 13, 2008 — Dancing moves Parkinson's patients to a better place in the USA Today

and 4 others.

WUSTL physical therapy professor Michael Mueller discusses various complications common with diabetes including skin and joint disorders.

References:

1. Nov. 9, 2008 — Patients with complications common with diabetes need physical therapy in the CNBC dLife: For Your Diabetes Life (national)

Article reports on three of the latest studies on what really helps when it comes to weight loss -- and why keeping a food diary can be crucial. One of the studies was led by WUSTL physical therapy professor Susan Racette, who discovered that many dieters experience a weekend slump -- dieters stopped losing weight on weekends and the exercisers actually gained weight.

References:

1. July 8, 2008 — What Works in the Newsweek Web exclusive

A new study reports that when Parkinson's patients took tango classes, their balance improved.The lead author is Madeleine E. Hackney of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

References:

1. Feb. 12, 2008 — Exercise: Parkinson's Patients Benefit From Tango in the The New York Times

Article on differing expert opinions on how and when to exercise abdominal muscles.
WUSTL physical therapy professor Shirley Sahrmann comments.

References:

1. Feb. 22, 2007 — Everything You Knew About Good Abs May Be Wrong in the The New York Times

It's been used for wrinkles, muscle spasms and even Tourette syndrome, but Botox may now save limbs from amputation because of diabetic foot ulcers.
WUSTL orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon Jeffrey Johnson and WUSTL physical therapist Mary Hastings, who is leading the study, comment.

References:

1. July 18, 2005 — Botox for foot wounds in the News 14 Carolina online (Raleigh, North Carolina)

and 1 others.

Researchers at the School of Medicine found that six months of supervised rehabilitation and resistance training helps elderly patients recover more fully from hip fractures. Rehabilitation typically covered by Medicare and most insurance plans involves up to four months of home therapy, but research shows most patients still have significant hardship with daily activities after such therapy.

References:

1. Aug. 17, 2004 — More rehab needed after hip fractures in the United Press International

and 13 others.

Bikram or "hot" yoga took root in Los Angeles three decades ago, but the technique has spread far beyond coastal cool. However, as more and more people take up Bikram to lose pounds and gain strength, medical professionals are expressing concerns about the demands of yoga contortions performed in extreme heat. Heat increases your metabolic rate, and by warming you up, it allows you to stretch more, but once you stretch a muscle beyond 20 or 25 percent of its resting length, you begin to damage the muscle. "The extreme range of motion yoga develops does not necessarily have an advantage, and it may be counterproductive," said Shirley Sahrmann, professor of physical therapy at the School of Medicine. "In my business, I have more problems with people who have excessive mobility than limited mobility."

References:

1. March 30, 2004 — "Hot" yoga may be hazardous to your health in the The New York Times

and 3 others.