Sled Hockey for the Disabled

I always love hearing about different ways of helping disabled people stay active and live life to the fullest.  Just because you can’t walk, doesn’t mean you have to settle for sitting at home feeling sorry for yourself.

I was reading the papers a few weeks ago and stumbled upon a great article on sled hockey.  These athletes are not letting their physical disabilities stop them from being athletes and having fun.  And it is also a great form of physical therapy to help build strength in the areas that need it.      Read More…

The Complete Story Is Here…

High Cholesterol Foods

As you’re probably aware, high cholesterol, specifically, high levels of LDL cholesterol, is dangerous to your body.  It is a leading contributor to heart disease in America.

So how do you keep your LDL cholesterol levels at low levels?  First, exercise!  Exercising for 30 minutes each day will help transfer cholesterol through the liver, rather than building up in your arteries and increasing your risk of heart trouble.

If you are unsure of an effective exercise program, call a licensed physical therapist and they can develop a safe exercise program that you are comfortable with and will help you reduce your LDL cholesterol levels.

It’s important to combine your exercise program with healthy eating.  You can workout every day, but if your diet consists of foods high in saturated fats, like fast food and fried food, then you are increasing your risk of high LDL cholesterol levels.  Instead of having a side of french fries, have some sliced fruits of veggies.

High LDL cholesterol is very dangerous, but it is something that you have some control in.  You can take steps to decrease your LDL cholesterol and decrease your risk of heart problems.  The choice is up to you.

Hand Affected by CRPS

May is Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Awareness Month.  In honor of this, I am taking a blog post to educate you on this pain condition.

CRPS is a chronic pain condition that usually affects the arms or legs, but can affect any part of the body.  Doctors don’t know what causes CRPS, but they believe that it is the result of damage to the nervous system, specifically; the nerves that control blood vessels and sweat glands.

The damaged nerves are no longer able to properly control blood flow, sensation and temperature to your affected areas.

The key symptom is pain that doesn’t get better and spreads through the limb or to the other side of the body.

While there is no cure for CRPS, there is treatment.  And physical therapy is one of those treatments.  Physical therapy should be started as soon as possible.  A licensed physical therapist will create an exercise program specifically tailored to your needs.  The focus of the physical therapy and the exercises prescribed are to assist you in keeping your joints and muscles moving, which may prevent the disease from spreading to other parts of your body and assist you in performing your daily activities.

Hernia Information

Sports hernia, as you might have guessed from the name, is a common injury among athletes.

The cause of sports hernias is that there is an imbalance between muscles inserting on the pubic bone.  Usually, it is the leg muscles that are stronger than the torso muscles.  This imbalance leads to sports hernias.

One you have been diagnosed with a sports hernia, the very first step is to REST!  Of course, unless you’re a hockey player in the NHL playoffs (I’m looking at you, Brooks Orpik), then you continue to play.  Seeing as the vast majorities of people are not professional hockey players, rest is the first step to recovery.

Once you have rested, treatment from a licensed physical therapist is the next step.  Rehabilitation with physical therapy usually takes 4-6 weeks, but as with all injuries, recovery time can differ with each person.

Stretching the lower abdominal and extremity muscles is ­the focus of physical therapy for sports hernias.  Because leg muscles are usually stronger than the core muscles, strengthening the core is emphasized.

If properly diagnosed and treated with physical therapy, those suffering sports hernia injuries will have excellent response and not need surgery.

Robot Helping Stroke Patients Walk Again

Science is truly an incredible thing. In recent years, medical advancements have come up with so many things that I never thought would have been possible when I got started as a physical therapist more than 30 years ago.

Here is a great story about how robots are being used to help stroke victims. Now, I understand if fans of the “Terminator” movies might have a fear of robots taking over the world, but as the video below will show, they can be used to accomplish great things! Robots can help stroke patients relearn how to use affected limbs.     Read More…

Robots Help Stoke Victims Walk Again

Stroke Challenge 2012

May 2012 is stroke awareness month.  As I’ve shared in multiple blog posts, stroke is a serious issue that affects hundreds of thousands of Americans every day.  In fact, every 40 seconds, another person in the country suffers from stroke.

The chances are you or someone you know has been affected by stroke.  Well, here is a chance for you to help.  Stroke.org is currently conducting the Act Fast for Stroke Challenge.  This is an online fundraising event that runs through June.  By participating, “you’ll be raising essential funds to help make life better for millions touched by stroke.  Your fundraising dollars will support our outreach programs that teach people how to protect themselves from stroke, educate healthcare professionals about lifesaving treatments, and support the more than 7 million individuals and their families who have been touched by stroke.”

It is an opportunity to help make a difference, and I hope you consider it.                    Read More…

Act Fast For Stroke Challenge

ALS- Also Known As Lou Gehrig’s

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s is a nasty and rare neurological disease that attacks nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles.

I’m not going to sugarcoat it, ALS is fatal and there is no known cure.  According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, eventually, all muscles under voluntary control are affected, and patients lose their strength and the ability to move their arms, legs, and body.  When muscles in the diaphragm and chest wall fail, patients lose the ability to breathe without ventilatory support. Most people with ALS die from respiratory failure, usually within 3 to 5 years from the onset of symptoms.  However, about 10 percent of ALS patients survive for 10 or more years.

It’s a very scary disease that affects about 30,000 people in the United States, including 5,000 new cases each year.

While there is no cure, physical therapy is a viable treatment that can improve the quality of life in ALS patients.  Licensed physical therapists can create a low-impact exercise program to improve cardiovascular health, strengthen unaffected muscles and help patients fight fatigue and depression that accompanies ALS.

Range of motion and stretching exercises can help prevent painful spasticity and shortening of muscles.  Physical therapists can recommend exercises that provide these benefits without overworking muscles.

ALS is a life altering disease.  Anyone who has it will experience major changes to their lives, and ultimately, shorter lives.  But there are ways to fight the affects of the disease and live a higher quality of life.  Don’t give up, and ask healthcare professionals what you can do to continue living your life despite ALS.

Caring Physical Therapy

I’m going to tell you a little secret about physical therapy.  Just because a practice is a part of a certain four-letter organization and is all over Pittsburgh media, doesn’t mean it’s better.

These physical therapy giants may see a lot of patients, but that’s because doctors in that same four-letter organization are required to refer their patients within the organization.

Unfortunately, at these larger practices, patients become numbers.  The offices have to see a certain number of patients per week.  This leads to rushed care.  It also leads to patients not seeing the same physical therapist on every visit.  They are just seeing who is in the office that day.

Your health is the most important thing in the world.  If you can’t live life pain-free and with the ability to do everyday tasks, then it’s a life not lived to the fullest.  With this mind, you should always seek a physical therapy practice that that guarantees you will see the same licensed physical therapist on every visit.  You should seek a physical therapy practice that cares about you and isn’t thinking about making their quota for the week.  You should seek a physical therapist who cares about your recovery and makes you feel as if you’re their only patient.

It might be easy to visit an institution that you see on TV, radio, billboards, newspapers and magazines everyday telling you how great they are, but you owe it to yourself and your health to do your due diligence and choose a place that has proven itself as a practice that truly believes that the patient comes first and is not just a number.

THE pt GROUP Physical Therapists Care

As I’ve shared in countless posts in the past year, I love hearing about how physical therapy has helped people recover from injuries.  They never get old to me. Whether it’s a minor shoulder injury, or a major leg injury that has the patient thinking they’ll never walk again, I love helping people.

It was brought to my attention last week that while I am always promoting great physical therapy success stories I find online, I haven’t really given my practice, THE pt GROUP, the props it and our great therapists deserve.

The therapists at THE pt GROUP and I have seen all kinds of injuries in our more than 30 years of doing business.  We pride ourselves on 1-on-1 treatment and ensuring patients see the same therapist on each visit.  This dedication to our patients is what puts us above the rest.

If you don’t believe me, here are real patients from THE pt GROUP sharing their stories and experiences.    Read More…

THE pt GROUP

Rotator Cuff Rehabilitation: Surgery Not Always Best

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, rotator cuff injuries are rarely brought to the public’s attention except when professional baseball players are the ones getting hurt.

When you hear about baseball players injuring their rotator cuffs, surgery is almost always performed like it is routine.  You also usually see that player back in the majors in the next season or so, back to throwing 90 mph.

Pitchers are also only a small percent of those individuals who get surgery on their rotator cuff.  According to the article linked below, there are more than 400,000 rotator cuff surgeries in the United States each year.

What the article also points out, is that the surgery does not always have the desired results.  While surgery certainly is a valid treatment, it is not the only treatment.  A licensed physical therapist that specializes in rotator cuff rehabilitation can develop a treatment plan for you to reduce your pain and help you get back to doing your everyday activities.

You rarely hear stories of baseball players using physical therapy to recover from rotator cuff surgery, so it’s important you hear from someone that it’s not your only option.  Talk to your doctor and talk to a physical therapist to learn if physical therapy could be a valid alternative to surgery.

Of course, if you decide on surgery, physical therapy, before and after surgery, is vital to your recovery.    Read More…

Effectiveness of Rotator Cuff Surgery