Article written by: Chris Wolfe, PT, Certified MDT, OCS
Director of Green Hills STAR Physical Therapy
www.StarPT.com
Shoulder disorders are some of the most common joint complaints, and shoulder impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tendonitis are considered to be the most frequent cause of shoulder pain and disability. The shoulder complex is unique in the body due to its structure and function. It is considered a ball and socket joint involving the large rounded end of the upper arm bone called the humerus and the small shallow socket of the shoulder blade. This disproportional shape allows for a wide range of directions that the arm can be moved; however, it does not provide much stability to hold it in place. The stability of the shoulder relies heavily on numerous ligaments, tendons and muscles; and the most common group is called the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff attaches to and surrounds the rounded end of the humerus and is bordered superiorly by a bony roof called the acromion. There is a small space between this bony roof and the rotator cuff. With reaching overhead, the space around the rotator cuff decreases, sandwiching and pinching the tendons between the two bones. This can lead to the disorder of shoulder impingement where the tendons become compressed and then inflamed.
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Category Archives: Blog
Taping: A Pain Reliever When All Others Fail
“It’s gone” and “I can’t believe a little piece of tape can help that much”. These are typical comments made by patients after they have been shown how to tape their joints. Hand therapists have expanded the tricks in their bag of treatment options for pain reduction methods. Kinesio taping is now used as an effective pain reliever for hands. Patients who have not found traditional splints comfortable or effective now have an alternative. They report significant improvements in hand function with the use of simple taping techniques due to reduced pain.
- HOW IT WORKS: Traditional splints have a history of mixed results. Hard or soft neoprene devices were used but patients often complained they were bulky, uncomfortable, and caused additional pain. Today’s therapists have borrowed taping techniques used by athletic trainers. These methods often decrease pain, provide external support for healing tissues, help reduce edema, and are less cumbersome than splints.
- TAPE TYPES: Various types of tape may be used depending on the type of support needed and the patient’s tolerance of adhesives. Examples include McConnell and Kinesio tapes. Proper tape and adhesive, as well as wrapping styles, will maximize results.
- EFFECTIVE TREATMENT AREAS: Typical pain-reducing taping areas include many of the typical painful hot spots in the hand such as the CMC joint, thumb, ulnar-sided wrist pain as well as joint ligament pain.
- KINESIO TAPING ADVANTAGES: Taping is a low-profile alternative to traditional splinting. It provides custom relief to the area needing support. It is cost-effective in that a splint need not be purchased. It is easier for the patient and may result in better treatment compliance.
If you are a patient with hand or wrist pain talk to your physical or occupational therapist about taping as a low-cost practical method of pain relief. Information provided by our friends at Plymouth Physical Therapy Specialists
More PTandMe articles about Kinesio Taping can be found here:
Joint Protection
Joint Protection is important to hand and upper extremity rehabilitation. Our Friends at The Hale Hand Center came up with this list of techniques to help you protect your joints.
Understanding Pain
When pain persists and feels like it is ruining your life, it is difficult to see how it can be serving any useful purpose.
But even when pain is chronic and nasty, it hurts because the brain has somehow concluded, often completely subconsciously, that you are threatened and in danger — the trick is finding out why the brain has come to this conclusion.
“So, are you saying that the pain is all in my head?”
Yes — ALL pain is produced by the brain – no brain, no pain! This does not mean that it is not real – all pain is real.
Exercise Associated with Healthy Baby Weight
Prenatal care can increase health benefits for both mother and baby as well as reduce the risk of certain complications. It not only includes seeking medical care but also adopting certain lifestyle habits. Good nutrition and regular physical activity have both been linked to a number of benefits including a healthy birth-weight for babies.
Researchers from Canada wanted to estimate the influence of structured prenatal exercise on birth weight. A secondary assessment was done on the rate of cesarean since one reason for cesarean is a larger than normal fetus. The study, published in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, found that that structured prenatal exercise reduces the risk of having a large newborn without increasing the risk of low birth weight babies. Exercise was also associated with a lower risk of cesarean section.
About the Study
The meta-analysis included 28 randomized trials evaluating exercise interventions in 5,322 pregnancies for which birth size information was available. Participants were assigned to a standard prenatal care group or a standard prenatal care group plus supervised prenatal exercise group of at least 1 exercise session every 2 weeks throughout the study duration.
Participants who were in the prenatal exercise group were:
- 31% less likely to have a large newborn (birth weight of 8.8 pounds)
- 20% less likely to need cesarean section
- no more likely to have a low birth weight baby than those without exercise program
The mothers that participated in the regular exercise program also gained less weight than those in the group that did not receive the exercise intervention.
Information provided by the EBSCO Health Library
Scoliosis: Early Detection = Better Outcomes
Scoliosis is a medical condition in which the spine is curved either front to back or side to side and is often rotated to one side or the other. It can occur at birth (congenitally), develop over time having no obvious cause, but often seen related to posture and growth (idiopathically) or due to an injury or the other condition (secondarily), such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy.
The most common type is adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. It usually develops between the ages of 10 and 15, during periods of rapid growth. There are two kinds of curves, single or “C” curves and double or “S” curves. “C” curves are slightly more common than “S” curves. The curve can occur in the upper back (thoracic), lower back (lumbar), or a combination of both.
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Torticollis
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.
PT News
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
Does Your Bike Fit?
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.
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Concussions in High School Athletics are On the Rise
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
For more information visit www.cdc.gov/concussion
Additional articles from PTandMe about concussions can be found here:
