October is our favorite month of the year because it is National Physical Therapy Month!  This month-long celebration is here to recognize the impact physical therapists make in restoring and improving motion in people’s lives. What do physical therapists do? Physical therapists work to improve strength, flexibility, and independence, by working to remove pain, injury, and weakness!

Here are a few of the reasons patients come to physical therapy each day!

To Reduce or Eliminate Pain: If you are experiencing pain, physical therapy can help you treat the cause and not just the symptoms of your pain. Physical therapists work one-on-one with patients to achieve long-term solutions without the use of expensive prescriptions or tests, saving them both time and money.

To Prevent or Postpone Surgery: While surgery can be the best course of treatment for certain diagnoses, there is increasing evidence demonstrating that conservative treatments like physical therapy can be equally effective and cheaper for many conditions. One study showed that physical therapy can lower patient treatment costs by 72 percent, and it has been proven to remove or reduce the need for surgery in many cases. In the event that surgery is needed, a pre-op visit can help make recovery easier and safer.

To Improve balance and prevent falls: According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury and death for Americans over 65. Fall prevention programs offered by physical therapists are designed to increase independence with functional activities, functional mobility, and safety awareness while decreasing fall risk.

To Prevent Sports Injuries: Physical therapists work with athletes on many levels to prevent injury while promoting improved performance. By evaluating body movements and muscle strength, physical therapists can help you solve what body mechanics need to be corrected and create an injury recovery program for you to ensure a safe return to your sport with a competitive edge.

To Regain Strength after COVID-19: Even patients that weren’t hospitalized can experience multiple symptoms that may last several weeks or even months. Our therapists will provide you with a comprehensive evaluation to develop an individualized treatment plan to overcome your impairments and restore your strength.

To Reach Overall Health Goals: Physical therapy can help those that have had trouble with mobility or are looking to improve strength and overall health. Physical therapists can tailor programs to each patient’s ability levels in order to improve confidence and independence while reducing the risk of future injury.

Physical therapists work collaboratively with their patients to empower them to reach their individual goals, meet their needs, and overcome their challenges. In many cases, patients develop a lifelong relationship with their physical therapist to maintain optimum health and movement abilities throughout their lifespan. Now that you know what physical therapists do, if you or anyone that you know need physical therapy services, contact us today to have a physical therapist come to your home and make October your healthiest month yet!

MedRisk (2021). Statistics Spotlight: Physical Therapy Reduces Costs [Online]. Available from: https://www.medrisknet.com/statistics-spotlight-physical-therapy-reduces-costs/ [Accessed 7 October 2021]. ↩

We are here for you! We are still following CDC guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Our staff continues to wear masks and disinfect frequently used surfaces. If you’re looking for an additional way to attend physical therapy during COVID, telehealth appointments are available for patients that may not feel comfortable coming into the clinic. Telehealth uses both VIDEO and AUDIO so that we can have two-way communication during virtual visits. 

• We’ll email you a link.
• You’ll join a video chat using a smartphone, laptop, or tablet. 
• We’ll take you through a full therapy session with a major focus on exercises that restore joint range of motion and address tissue dysfunction. Then we’ll email you a thorough home exercise program.

While it may be tempting to stop before your treatment program has concluded, stopping too early can cost you both in terms of your health and your future goals. Here are some possible risks to stopping therapy before your body is ready:

• Risk of Re-injury 
• Ending treatment before learning how to maintain your health and strength
• Result in costly tests & unnecessary appointments, even emergency room or hospital stays
• Permanent bodily damage

You wouldn’t think of skipping your heart medication or your antibiotic. Physical therapy is no different! Consider physical therapy as you would another prescription from your doctor as part of your road to full recovery.

If you’re having trouble figuring out where you are on your physical therapy journey, see below to find out where you may see yourself:

Stage 1, Protection Phase: your body’s aim at this point is to protect your injury from any further damage; gentle movement can be added to maintain mobility, treatments to help control inflammation and pain 

Stage 2, Repair Phase: Your body has transitioned to repairing the injured tissues which commonly lasts up to six weeks post-injury; strengthening exercises are added as tolerated, and increased function begins

Stage 3, Remodeling Phase: the period between six weeks and three months is when your healing tissue is reasonably mature and will automatically stimulate additional new tissue to help strengthen and support the healing tissue until it meets the demands of your normal exercise or physical function

Stage 4, Ongoing Repair and Remodeling: this final stage of tissue repair can last from 3 months up to 12 months; physical therapy treatments focus on improving the quality of the new tissue and preventing reinjury

We can assure you that attending your remaining physical therapy appointments is a good investment for your health, now and in the future! Many of our physical therapists offer telehealth appointments in addition to on-site visits. Find one near you today!

It’s almost time for school to start and we wanted to spend some time on Back to School nutrition! We have made it through most of the summer and it is time to take a moment and really think about how we would like to prepare our families for this coming school year so that we can all stay healthy. Most of us get excited about the barbeques and the summer parties where we usually eat burgers, fried chicken, French fries, pizza, potato salad, and that yummy barbeque brisket! But believe it or not, these foods are harder to digest during the summer because they require a strong digestive fire in the stomach and are naturally more insulating-which makes them perfect foods to eat come fall or wintertime!

You see, every season the qualities in nature change, and the qualities of the harvest change, which both influence every one of us. In the winter we are naturally more able to digest meat, poultry, dense root vegetables, and nuts when your digestive strength is naturally more potent. Although in the summertime, our body’s digestive strength is weaker and its digestive acid reduces in the summer which helps to avoid the risk of overheating, which might seem like a problem- but in comes Nature. It harvests certain fruits and vegetables in abundance during the summertime that are readily available and don’t require a big furnace to be properly cooked to be digested. Summer foods are cooked all summer long by the sun, on the vine, and when they are harvested, they are ready to be eaten to keep us energized.

If you or a loved one is feeling a bit boggy or bloated, with a bit of weight gain, indigestion, or is constipated, it might be because the body tends to accumulate the heat of the summer, therefore, weakening digestive strength. Overworking and overheating can trigger heartburn and other digestive issues related to excess stomach acid production. Eating cooling foods that are harvested in the summer can help with this. Extra servings of raw or lightly steamed vegetables and eating fruits will help you cool down naturally.

Here are some examples:

• Cherries: support the health of joints, muscles, the cardiovascular system, lymphatic movement, and blood sugar balance through its high phenolic and anthocyanin content, also found to enhance exercise during and after by achieving quicker recovery times
• Celery: a powerhouse for your digestive system, which is full of fiber and rich in antioxidants that have been shown to remove free radicals and helps to eliminate the bile sludge and gallbladder stones that might be causing inflammation, heartburn, acid reflux, and weight gain
• Cilantro: is a good source of Vitamins A, K, and C, as well as copper, manganese, iron, magnesium, and calcium, also known as a natural blood purifier and detox agent (lead detoxifier), which will aid in inflammatory conditions such as arthritis
• Watermelon: stacks up as 92% water and is very cooling by nature by removing heat because of its mild diuretic properties and is known to have great anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Athletes use it to build muscle because of its exceptionally high source of citrulline, which is used in the body as a precursor to human growth hormone (HGH)
• Bell Peppers(All Colors): as a vegetable, it contains the highest source of Vitamin C at a whopping 157% DV(Daily Value) per cup, offers great amounts of phytonutrients such as beta-carotene and Vitamin B6, which are all great for protecting your skin from sun damage

Consider these tips if your digestion slows down as summer forges on:

If you are going to enjoy those yummy harder-to-digest foods, have them as a part of your lunch, during the middle of the day when your body’s digestive strength is at its peak
While it IS OK to eat these foods at this time, do your best to eat smaller portions of the barbeque and larger portions of fruit and vegetables.

Take a look at the list of foods below that are in harvest during the summer, add them to your grocery list, and make it a point to eat more of them!

Remember, there are no bad foods. The goal is not to stay away from “bad foods” but to enjoy more seasonal foods by shifting your focus on in-season foods throughout the year. Nature always provides the antidote to the extreme of each season with the ideal harvest to keep you and your family strong, healthy, energized, and focused this school year. Now more than ever, our health is at the forefront of our minds where it should be!

Summer Grocery List/Summer Harvest Foods:

Source: lifespa.com/pitta-diet

Vegetables/Fruit

• Asparagus
• Leafy Greens
• Bell Peppers
• Watermelon
• Apricots
• Apples
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Blueberries
• Cantaloupe
• Cherries
• Celery
• Cilantro
• Kale
• Radishes
• Grapes
• Guavas
• Mangoes
• Melon (All types)
• Snow Peas
• Watercress
• Zucchini
• Okra
• Artichokes
• Cucumbers
• Jicama
• Lettuce
• Peaches
• Pineapple
• Plums
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Avocadoes
• Tomatoes
• Lemons

Need to have a physical injury looked at before going back to school? Reach out to one of our partnering physical therapy clinics.

Article was written by Vanessa Delgado. Vanessa is a nutrition enthusiast, who is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Nutrition and Foods at the University of Houston

Resources:

https://lifespa.com/superfoods-summer-edition/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22280223/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15219719/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2874510/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23692746/
https://lifespa.com/why-you-should-eat-cherries-in-the-summer/
https://lifespa.com/8-foods-gallbladder-sludge/
https://explore.globalhealing.com/foods-that-help-heartburn/
https://lifespa.com/the-benefits-of-cilantro-and-coriander/
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=14
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=31
https://lifespa.com/064-cool-your-pitta-this-summer/ 
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=50 

For most of us, vacation equals relaxation, catching up with loved ones, or even some much-needed fun in the sun. We all deserve a break from time to time from our work schedules and daily tasks, and going on vacation during physical therapy this time of year isn’t uncommon. However, missing a few exercises between physical therapy visits can run the risk of losing some of your hard-earned progress. With just a little forethought and planning, you can stay active and healthy throughout your trip. If you are going on vacation during your rehabilitation program, here are a few key things you can do.

If you’re going on vacation during physical therapy the first thing you should do is talk to your physical therapist about a home exercise plan (HEP) that you can take with you so you’ll know exactly what you can do while you are away. Then, take a look at your itinerary and see what time you’ll have available for your exercise program. By planning ahead you’ll be more likely to follow through.

Second, plan times during your trip when you can do your HEP. It can be ideal to fit your routine first thing in the morning so you don’t have to worry about it the entire day. Lunchtime is another good option since it’s when your body is naturally most active. Making use of your breaks instead of a set time each day can also work.

Whether flying or driving, you’re likely going to be doing a lot of sitting and waiting at the beginning and end of your trip, which is a great time to get those exercises in. Also, try to take advantage of breaks during your vacation whether you’re…

• Waiting for an uber
• About to start a tour
• Getting ready to eat
• In a longer-than-it-should-be theme park line

Taking just a few minutes throughout the day to do some stretching and the prescribed exercises will help keep you from losing all those hard-fought gains you worked on with your physical therapist.

Finally, if you’ve had a major injury or are recovering from surgery, ask your physical therapist for advice on how to prevent re-injury while you are away from the clinic. By listening to your physical therapist, sticking to your home exercise plan, and avoiding situations that could increase your pain/injury, you should be able to have an amazing vacation full of fun!

If you are experiencing pain or loss of motion, we highly recommend you see one of our licensed and very talented physical therapists before going on vacation. Even if you haven’t started treatment yet, we can give you ways to keep from reinjuring your body further and get you on the schedule for your return.

Watching television can be a fun way to spend a night at home, especially when there are so many great shows to choose from. Many conversations now start with, “Did you watch that new show on Netflix?” While it is fun to binge-watch a television show, sitting for long periods can be detrimental to your health. Fear not – we have 4 Exercises you can do at home while watching TV

Here are some exercises you can do while enjoying a good show!

• Sit-To-Stand
• Leg Figure Eights
• Elevated Mountain Climbers
• Tricep Dips

Need help getting started? These exercises will not work for everyone and should not be done if you are experiencing pain. An on-site or telehealth visit with a physical therapist can show you the safe way to exercise, the right number of repetitions, and how to progress the exercises correctly. Remember that all bodies are a little different; physical therapists can teach what is right for YOU!

Looking for more?

Check out our recent blog on stretches you can do at work!

If you feel pain after a fall, sporting accident, or sudden movement, it is recommended that you have yourself checked by an orthopedic specialist. This is important to assess if you have sustained injuries that have affected your joints, bones, and connective tissues.

Orthopedic doctors recommend that you don’t treat any orthopedic injuries on your own or wait them out as it might lead to permanent damage. Some of the most common injuries orthopedic and sports injury clinics attend to include:

Fractures

Fracture is a prevalent risk, especially for those that engage in contact sports. Fractures have two primary classifications: simple and compound. The most common fractures in sports occur in the ankle, foot, wrist, collarbone, and hand.

A fractured bone can be extremely painful, and the area around the fracture often swells instantly. If you suspect you have a fracture, it is recommended that you seek medical attention right away.

Groin Strains

Groin strains often occur when you change direction drastically while exercising. Groin strains can also be attributed to overstretching of the groin muscles. Some of the most common symptoms of groin strain include swelling, bruising, and muscle spasms.

Hamstring Injuries

Hamstring injuries often occur when exercising or running. The hamstrings can get injured when they are overworked or stretched too far. In some instances, the muscle can also tear.

Individuals with hamstring injuries can feel severe pain in the back of their thighs. Some people will also feel a “pop.” Hamstring injuries can also cause bruising or inflammation at the back of the thigh.

Ankle Sprains

When the ankle is bent or twisted the wrong way, a sprain can occur. Ankle sprains can also happen if you wear improper footwear or get injured while playing sports. While a mild ankle sprain can get better with rest, severe cases will require orthopedic care.

About the author

Dr. Charles R. Kaelin received his medical degree from the University of Louisville, Kentucky, and completed his orthopaedic training at Orlando Regional Center in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Kaelin also received training in Sports Medicine at Alabama Sports Medicine with Dr. Lemak, specializing in sports medicine and workman’s compensation injuries. He has been a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) since 1990. He is a charter member of the International Cartilage Research Society, a Founding member of the AAOS Education Enhancement Fund (AAOS), and a past editorial board member for the American College of Sports Medicine Health and Fitness Journal.

Depending upon the injury, patients may benefit from physical therapy for further rehabilitation. Our licensed orthopedic professionals work each day to help patients back to the activities they love most. Find the location nearest you today!