Torticollis is a condition of the neck in which the child’s head tilts toward one shoulder and the chin rotates towards the opposite shoulder. It occurs when one of the muscles (sternocleidomastoid muscle) in the child’s neck is tight.
Signs & Symptoms
Flattening of the back of the head on one side
Hip dysplasia
Limited range of motion in the head
Small bump on the side of the baby’s neck
Your Child and Torticollis
About 1 in 250 infants are born with torticollis. (Ten to 20 percent of babies with torticollis also have hip dysplasia, in which the hip joint is malformed.)
Torticollis limits the ability for a child to move their head freely to see, hear and interact with his/her environment. Because of this torticollis may lead to delayed body awareness, weakness and difficulties with balance, and asymmetrical use of their arms and legs through developmental stages. This asymmetry can lead to uneven weight bearing through the legs and favoring one side of the body.
If your child does have Torticollis your pediatrician would likely diagnose your baby within the first 2-3 months. Most cases of torticollis respond very well to physical therapy intervention. It is important that parents get their children into physical therapy as soon as possible. The older the child is the tighter the SCM becomes and the harder it becomes to stretch the child due to their increased activity level.
Physical Therapy is safe Effective Treatment
At the physical therapy initial evaluation, the parents will be given a home exercise program including:
Range of motion exercises
Massage instructions
Positioning ideas
The combination of physical therapy and home exercise is important to the success of the program. A good deal of parents are surprised as to how quickly they see improvement in their infant’s posture and ability to move to different positions.
This Month in PT News. Featuring articles from PTandMe partnering clinics.
1.Degenerative Disc Disease and the Role of Physical Therapy Written by the therapy Team at The Jackson Clinics Physical Therapy
The symptoms of degenerative disc disease are varied but regardless, it can limit the patient’s mobility and ability to perform daily activities. Painkillers can help patients with degenerative disc disease but they also benefit from physical therapy. Let’s take a look on the role of Oregon Spine & Physical Therapy in Eugene, Oregon in managing degenerative disc disease. Read More
2. Early Signs of Dehydration Written by the therapy team at ARCH Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine
You have commonly heard the phrase, “MAKE SURE YOU ARE DRINKING ENOUGH WATER.” Hydration is important for the body not only as a daily practice, during physical activity, but also plays an important role in the aid of weight loss. The human body is made up of approximately 50-75% water. The percentage of water varies based on age and gender. Read More
3. You Win Some, You Lose Some- Lessons Learned as a Marathon Walker Written by Tiffany Basore PT, DPT at The Center for Physical Rehabilitation
Growing up I was an athlete. While being a perfectionist and competitive by nature helped me reach some goals, it has also held me back. There were times in my life where I avoided things because I was afraid to fail. In 2009, I took a chance and trained for a ½ marathon. Despite playing multiple sports, long distance running has never been “my thing”. I was nervous to participate for fear of failure, but I put these thoughts aside and I trained. I followed a plan, I was consistent, and I didn’t get hurt. When race day rolled around I was nervous but I felt I had prepared well. I had been experiencing some mild health issues at the time which had altered my diet, but I didn’t worry too much about it. I woke up the morning of the race with my legs feeling like lead. I attributed this to being nervous and over-thinking things. I started the race hoping I just needed to get into my rhythm, but I never did. I trudged on for 12 of the 13.1 miles willing my non-cooperative body to keep moving. Just past mile 12, there was a hill. I knew there was no way my body would carry me to the finish line if I tried to run up it. My entire body was letting me down in a way it never had during any of my training runs. As I began to walk, a medic asked if I was okay. I stubbornly said yes, but when asked to walk a straight line, I couldn’t come close. He checked my blood pressure, oxygen, and blood sugar, all of which were too low. I had to stop. My body had failed me. I had failed. Read More
There is a misconception that only competitive cyclists benefit from bike fittings. The truth is that anyone that rides a bike on a consistent basis should ride a bike that fits them properly. Granted, competitive cyclists are looking for every advantage with respect to power and performance. However, fitness and recreational riders can gain the same benefits while also improving comfort and reducing the risk of on-the-bike injuries. Often, a few basic changes to a bike can make a significant difference with respect to comfort, power, endurance and overall performance. We can briefly examine some of the key areas that must be considered to ensure a proper bike fit. Continue reading →
Concussions in high school athletics have been increasing dramatically. According to the National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study, in the 2005-2006 school year 9% of high school athletic injuries were diagnosed as a concussion/head injury. The 2013-14 school year showed concussions to be at 21.9%. With this kind of increase it’s important to be aware of the warning signs and how to respond to them.
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a type of brain injury that changes the way the brain normally works. Concussions can have a more serious effect on a young,developing brain and need to be addressed correctly.
What are common concussion signs and symptoms?
You can’t see a concussion. Signs and symptoms of concussion can show up right after an injury or may not appear or be noticed until hours or days after the injury. It is important to watch for changes in how your child or teen is acting or feeling, if symptoms are getting worse, or if s/he just “doesn’t feel right.” Most concussions occur without loss of consciousness. If your child or teen reports one or more of the symptoms of concussion listed below, or if you notice the symptoms yourself, seek medical attention right away. Children and teens are among those at greatest risk for concussion.
DANGER SIGNS
Be alert for symptoms that worsen over time. Your child or teen should be seen in an emergency department right away if s/he has:
One pupil (the black part in the middle of the eye) larger than the other
Drowsiness or cannot be awakened
A headache that gets worse and does not go away
Weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination
Repeated vomiting or nausea
Slurred speech
Convulsions or seizures
Difficulty recognizing people or places
Increasing confusion, restlessness, or agitation
Unusual behavior
Loss of consciousness (even a brief loss of consciousness should be taken seriously)
What should I do if my child or teen is showing concussion signs?
Help them take time to get better. If your child or teen has a concussion, her or his brain needs time to heal. Your child or teen may need to limit activities while s/he is recovering from a concussion. Exercising or activities that involve a lot of concentration, such as studying,working on the computer, or playing video games may cause concussion symptoms (such as headache or tiredness) to reappear or get worse. After a concussion,physical and cognitive activities—such as concentration and learning—should be carefully managed and monitored by a health care professional.
To see the full report of high school injuries click here
More than half of all Americans are suffering from pain. However, many don’t even know that physical therapists are well equipped to not only treat pain but also its source. The goal of physical therapy is to correct your imbalances in posture, restore your motion and muscle strength, and recondition injured tissues to allow you to be pain-free in your daily activities. Physical therapists are biomechanical specialists. They find the source of your pain and fix it.
If you have heard of the profession of physical therapy. Maybe you have had a conversation with a friend about how physical therapy helped get rid of their back pain, or you might know someone who needed physical therapy after an injury. You might even have been treated by a physical therapist yourself. But have you ever wondered about physical therapists-who they are and what they do? Many people are familiar with physical therapists’ work helping patients with orthopedic problems, such as low back pain or knee surgeries, to reduce pain and regain function. Others may be aware of the treatment that physical therapists provide to assist patients recovering from a stroke, e.g. assisting them with recovering use of their limbs and walking again.
Maintaining an upright posture and moving your arms and legs to perform all sorts of tasks and activities is an essential component of your health. Most of us can learn to live with the various medical conditions that we may develop, but only if we are able to continue at our jobs, take care of our families, and enjoy important occasions with family and friends. All of these activities require the ability to move without difficulty or pain.
Because physical therapists are experts in movement and function, they do not confine their talents to treating people who are ill. A large part of a physical therapist’s program is directed at preventing injury, loss of movement, and even surgery. Physical therapists work as consultants in industrial settings to improve the design of the workplace and reduce the risk of workers overusing certain muscles or developing low back pain. They also provide services to athletes at all levels to screen for potential problems and institute preventive exercise programs. With the boom in the golf and fitness industries, a number of physical therapists are engaged in consulting with recreational golfers and fitness clubs to develop workouts that are safe and effective, especially for people who already know that they have a problem with their joints or their backs.
The cornerstones of physical therapist treatment are therapeutic exercise and functional training. In addition to “hands-on” care, physical therapists also educate patients to take care of themselves and to perform certain exercises on their own. Depending on the particular needs of a patient, physical therapists may also “mobilize” a joint (that is, perform certain types of movements at the end of your range of motion) or massage a muscle to promote proper movement and function. Physical therapists also use methods such as ultrasound (which uses high-frequency waves to produce heat), hot packs, and ice. Although other kinds of practitioners will offer some of these treatments as “physical therapy,” it’s important for you to know that physical therapy can only be provided by qualified physical therapists or by physical therapist assistants, who must complete a 2-year education program and who work only under the direction and supervision of physical therapists.
Most forms of physical therapy treatment are covered by your insurance, but the coverage will vary with each plan. Most states do not legally require patients to see their physicians before seeing a physical therapist. Most of the time all you have to do is ask your doctor if physical therapy is right for you.
CLICK ABOVE to hear the differences between physical therapy and other types of treatment.
Tennis Elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis is an inflammation of the tendon fibers that attach the forearm extensor muscles to the outside of the elbow. More recently it is believed that this condition is due to the degeneration of the wrist extensor tendons. Either way, this affects the muscles that lift the wrist and hand. Pain may be felt where these fibers attach to the bone on the outside of the elbow or along the muscles in the forearm. Overuse of the muscles and tendons of the forearm and elbow are the most common reasons people develop the injury. Repeating some types of activities over and over again can put too much strain on the elbow tendons. These activities are not necessarily high-level sports competitions. Hammering nails, picking up heavy buckets, or pruning shrubs can all cause the pain. Some patients, however, develop tennis elbow without any specific recognizable activity leading to symptoms.
How to Treat Tennis Elbow
Splints: Your physician or therapist may fit you with a strap to provide support to the involved muscles. Remember not to fasten the strap too tight as this can cause more problems. You may also be given a wrist splint to wear to provide rest to the muscles and tendons that bend and straighten the wrist. If your elbow is extremely tender, you will be provided with a heelbo or cushion to prevent the elbow from being hit. Wear these devices as directed. You can’t get better unless you wear the splints properly.
Ice and/or Heat Applications: Discuss with your physical therapist how to correctly apply ice or heat to the parts of your elbow and forearm that are involved. Icing can help reduce swelling/inflammation in the muscles and tendons that cause epicondylitis. Your therapist may also recommend heat to increase circulation in the area and decrease symptoms, especially if your condition is more chronic. Do not apply either for longer than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
Stretching and Strengthening: Your physical therapist will instruct on how to treat tennis elbow by showing proper stretching and strengthening techniques as prescribed by your physician. Stretching improves the range of motion, increases circulation, and decreases muscle fatigue and swelling. Stretching the extensor muscle mass also provides tissue elongation to relieve muscle contractions. Strengthening helps build and tone the small muscles affected in epicondylitis, while hopefully decreasing pain and preventing a return of symptoms. Your therapist and physician will instruct you on what exercises to perform, when to begin them, and how often to complete the exercises.
Exercise Example from The Jackson Clinics
Sports: You may want to stop playing any racquet sports for now to allow adequate healing and reduction of pain. Also avoid sports such as baseball, bowling, or golf until you are pain-free. Weightlifting and bike riding can also pose problems. For tennis players, your serve, racquet, and ball all play important parts in your recovery, so be sure to speak about this with your physical therapist before resuming play.
Rest: Now that you have sought medical attention, you only get one opportunity to rest the arm and decrease your symptoms. This doesn’t mean you should stop using your arm and put it in a sling. It does mean you need to stop doing the activities and movements that cause inflammation and pain Follow the advice of your physician and therapist and discontinue activities that provoke pain.
Look at what you do and how you do it, not only in your work setting but at home, too. Remember, while tendonitis occasionally occurs from a one-time incorrect movement, it usually occurs from the overuse of a small muscle group. In other words, the continual repetition of incorrect movements will eventually stress the body, setting the stage for pain and inflammation.
This is made available for physical therapists following the conversation about proposed coding changes for therapy and is an open response from APTQI to the APTA regarding the Alternative Payment Systems currently in development.
Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and InnovationAPTQI Members:
The Alliance wanted to share with you their collective response (files attached) regarding the discussion and debate surrounding the alternative APS coding system endorsed by the APTA and currently under review at the AMA CPT Editorial Panel/RUC level committee process. Continue reading →
This Month in PT News. Featuring articles from PTandMe partnering clinics. 1. Raising Early Awareness of Flat Feet and Fallen Arches Written by the therapy Team at The Jackson Clinics Physical Therapy
If the soles of your shoes show unusual wear patterns, one of the culprits might be the common condition of flat feet. Flat feet are normal in babies whose arches have not yet developed. The arch develops in childhood, and by the time you reach adulthood, a normal arch should be present. Read More
2. The Kinesio Taping Method: What’s It All About? Written by Melissa Coon at ARC Physical Therapy+
Barb Lewis is an Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who specializes in upper extremity and wound injuries. She is also a Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner. In honor of Pain Awareness Month this September, Barb shares her expertise on Kinesio Taping and explains how it benefits patients. Read More
3. The Dual Role of Physical Therapy Written by the therapy Team at Cornerstone Physical Therapy
A period of rest and recovery is essential after any injury, bwoman getting chiropracticut hip and pelvic fractures pose unique challenges. An extended period of bed rest is needed to allow time to heal. Reduced muscle tone and weakness may ensue. It can also result in a reduction in joint mobility. Physical therapy helps mitigate the effects of bed rest. Once a patient is weight bearing, a therapist can facilitate recovery using some of the following methods: Read More
Summer is a time to have fun and spend time outdoors.
It is an opportunity to enjoy the sunshine. It’s a time when you can go out for a walk and roll down the windows and take in everything that nature has to offer. The weather encourages you to be active and venture outside.
