What is Stroke?
Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within
the brain. It is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of
disability in the United States.
Category Archives: Blog
Trigger point dry needling
Trigger point dry needling
uses small, thin needles to stimulate underlying myofascial trigger points, muscular and connective tissues for the management of many orthopedic conditions, both acute and chronic. By inserting a needle into the dysfunctional tissue, it often leads to a contraction of the muscle which then stimulates a release. This leads to a reduction of pain, improvements in flexibility and a restoration of normalized movement when combined with corrective exercises.
PT for Pregnancy
Pregnancy should be a time of anticipation – not pain. Working together with an OBGYN a physical therapist can create a safe and appropriate exercise routine during pregnancy. See more from an article featured on TodayinPT.com.
Melissa Gaskill writes; exercise can ease most of the common complaints of pregnancy, complaints that often lead women to a PT. Exercise helps reduce backaches; increase energy; improve mood, posture, and circulation; increase range of motion; and promote muscle tone, strength, and endurance. Exercise can help women sleep better, and may help prevent or treat gestational diabetes. Regular activity, particularly abdominal workouts, also may improve a woman’s ability to cope with labor, make it easier for her to get back in shape after the birth, and decrease the risk of pelvic floor and organ prolapse. Pregnant women should, however, receive clearance from their obstetricians before beginning any exercise regimen. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE
Treating Ankle Sprains
One of the most common injuries is an ankle sprain. The most common of these is called an inversion-sprain in which the foot is rolled out. On the outer portion of the ankle are three ligaments which can be stretched or torn. There are different severities of sprain and different sets of symptoms. In general , most result in swelling , pain, stiffness, bruising and difficulty with weight bearing. The more involved the sprain, the more of these symptoms are present.
As with most injuries, earlier treatment means speedier recovery. The old synonym of RICE applies within the first 24-48 hours.
R- Rest I- Ice C- Compression E- Elevation
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Aquatic Therapy
Aquatic therapy offers an alternative environment for therapeutic exercise. If you have tried traditional physical therapy or have restrictions on your physical therapy program, aquatic therapy may be the perfect solution for your physical therapy needs. Patients with orthopedic and arthritic conditions can stretch and strengthen in an impact reduced environment. If you have a restricted weight-bearing status after surgery, aquatic therapy may also be ideal for you. The buoyancy of water reduces the stress of gravity so you can exercise in water, even if you have partial weight-bearing status.
Calculating Your Body Mass Index (BMI)
What is the Body Mass Index (BMI)?
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. BMI is a fairly reliable indicator of body fatness for most people. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but research has shown that BMI correlates to direct measures of body fat, such as underwater weighing and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).1, 2 BMI can be considered an alternative for direct measures of body fat. Additionally, BMI is an inexpensive and easy-to-perform method of screening for weight categories that may lead to health problems.
How is BMI used?
BMI is used as a screening tool to identify possible weight problems in adults. However, BMI is not a diagnostic tool. For example, a person may have a high BMI. However, to determine if excess weight is a health risk, a healthcare provider would need to perform further assessments. These assessments might include skinfold thickness measurements, evaluations of diet, physical activity, family history, and other appropriate health screenings.
Why is BMI used to measure overweight and obesity?
Calculating BMI is one of the best methods for population assessment of overweight and obesity. Because calculation requires only height and weight, it is inexpensive and easy to use for clinicians and for the general public. The use of BMI allows people to compare their own weight status to that of the general population.
What are some of the other ways to measure obesity?
Other methods to measure body fatness include skinfold thickness measurements (with calipers), underwater weighing, bioelectrical impedance, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and isotope dilution. However, these methods are not always readily available, and they are either expensive or need highly trained personnel. Furthermore, many of these methods can be difficult to standardize across observers or machines, complicating comparisons across studies and time periods.
What are the health consequences of being overweight and obese for adults?
The BMI ranges are based on the relationship between body weight and disease and death.5 Overweight and obese individuals are at increased risk for many diseases and health conditions, including the following:
- Hypertension
- Dyslipidemia (for example, high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides)
- Type 2 diabetes
- Coronary heart disease
- Stroke
- Gallbladder disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
- Some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
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BMI For Adults Widget
Information provided by cdc.gov
Early Signs of Dehydration
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.
Repetitive strain injury (RSI)
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), repetitive strain injuries are the nation’s most common and costly occupational health problem, affecting hundreds of thousands of American workers,and costing more than $20 billion a year in workers compensation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly two-thirds of all occupational illnesses reported, were caused by exposure to repeated trauma to workers’ upper body (the wrist, elbow or shoulder). One common example of such an injury is carpal tunnel syndrome
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Helpful Hints to Stop Tennis Elbow
Commonly known as “tennis elbow”, 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 tennis elbow 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 tennis elbow. 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 competition. Hammering nails, picking up heavy buckets, or pruning shrubs can all cause the pain of tennis elbow. Some patients, however, develop tennis elbow without any specific recognizable activity leading to symptoms.
What is Occupational Therapy (OT)?
APRIL IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MONTH!
Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.
Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. Occupational therapy services typically include:
- An individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and occupational therapist determine the person’s goals.
- Customized intervention to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach the goals.
- An outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or make changes to the intervention plan.
Occupational therapists serve infants, children and adults with a range of abilities and diagnoses such as:
- Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit
- Hyperactivity Disorder
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Brachial Plexus Injury
- Cerebral Palsy
- Concussion and other traumatic brain injuries
- Down Syndrome
- Hand and wrist injuries
- Organizational or sensory movement disorders
- Sensory Processing Disorders
- Torticollis
WHAT TYPES OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ARE THERE?
Occupational therapists can address a number of different needs. Specialized treatments include:
- Manual Therapy
- Neurodevelopmental Treatment
- Post-Concussion Management
- Self-care/Daily Living Skill Acquisition
- Sensory Integration Therapy
- Social Skill Development
- Therapeutic Exercise
- Vestibular Treatment
- Visual Motor Rehabilitation
- Work Related Injuries and Evaluations
- and many others…