July 2007 E-News
Learn more about how our health and fitness services can help you recover from injury or pain, as well as, feel better. Surf the web site and discover our physical therapy, personal fitness training, massage therapy, and corporate wellness programs.
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Physical Therapists Can Help Relieve Pain
"Many people are looking for alternatives to the sole use of medication to deal with painful conditions," said APTA President R Scott Ward, PT, PhD. "Pain medication may help you get through periods of severe pain, but it won't always help you eliminate the underlying cause of some kinds of pain. For many individuals, it is the underlying causes such as poor posture and alignment, weak and/or inflexible muscles, or tight joint structures that actually exacerbate the painful condition," Ward explained. "A physical therapist will perform a complete musculoskeletal examination and design an individualized treatment program to reduce pain and improve function."
There are many types of pain and inflammation that can be reduced by physical therapist intervention. For example, chronic pain in the back, shoulder, or knee, or pain associated with certain degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis, can be reduced with the appropriate combination of medication and exercise. "The physical therapist, in collaboration with the patient and the patient's physician, can help the patient manage his or her health over the long term," explained Ward.
For pain of a "mechanical" origin such as back, shoulder, or knee pain, physical therapist intervention may include therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, and functional training. "The goal of the physical therapist is to reduce pain, improve the ability to perform daily activities, and help the patient return to doing the things he or she likes to do," said Ward. "It is also true that patients may unknowingly contribute to their own pain, such as by exercising improperly or with poor posture, and physical therapists can identify and help to correct those behaviors." Ward added, "Through the use of home programs designed to fit the patient's needs, the physical therapist can efficiently progress the patient's rehabilitation and teach the patient how to prevent a recurrence of the original condition." For osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease of the cartilage and bone, physical therapist intervention may include exercises for strength, flexibility, range of motion, and the use of devices designed to rest or support the joint, such as orthotics or splints.
Physical therapists, who treat nearly 1 million people every day, work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness- and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles. Many insurance policies also cover post-rehabilitation gym programs. "Most people who desire a fitness plan are not athletes," Ward explained. "They are ‘ordinary people' who exercise lightly to moderately. Many have a prior health condition, such as chronic low back pain, that can benefit greatly from physical therapist management focused on increasing muscle strength and endurance, restoring and improving range of motion in joints, increasing cardiovascular endurance, and decreasing muscle and joint pain." The physical therapist individualizes exercise programs based on functional limitations as a result of injury or illness.
Here at Summit Rehabilitation and Wellness we have a staff of trained professionals including: physical therapists, massage therapists, dieticians, and fitness trainers that will all work together to help you minimize your pain and LIVE WELL.
Running
Running is an efficient way to burn calories and achieve cardiovascular fitness. Unfortunately, running injuries are common, especially to the lower back, hips, knees, shins, ankles, and feet. And while the recovery rate is high—at least in the short term—it’s also true that running may accelerate the natural wear and tear process in these body parts. Many runners suffer chronic problems in one or more of these regions.Well made supportive running shoes are crucial to preventing running injuries. Just as important as the right shoes is the right warm-up routine. A brief period of light jogging or running in place, followed by overall stretches and focused back and lower extremity stretching to your hips , knees, ankles and feet, is essential.
If you are a serious runner( or intend to become one), you should precondition your body with weight training and see a physical therapist, who can help you achieve your potential and avoid injury by performing a gait analysis, a detailed study of your particular running style. A gait analysis is also a must for any runner who is experiencing pain or reduced function to pinpoint the problem.
American Physical Therapy Association Book of Body Maintenance and Repair Marilyn Moffat, PT, PhD, FAPTA and Steve Vickery
APTA Releases Family Fitness Tips to Help Parents and Kids Avoid "OBESITY TRAP"
National Organization Advocates Families Exercising TogetherALEXANDRIA, VA, April 18, 2006 — The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is calling for families to fight the rise of childhood obesity by making family physical activity a top priority.
APTA, which represents 66,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students, has released new, easy-to-implement "family fitness tips" on its Web site, www.apta.org. These tips are in response to a recent report published by the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity indicating that nearly half of the children in North American will be overweight by 2010.
Noting that currently 16 percent of American children are overweight,* APTA member and sports physical therapist Teresa Schuemann, PT, SCS, says she attributes the percentage, in part, to a lack of sustained daily exercise and the popularity of video games. "If possible, children should commit to at least 30 minutes of sustained physical activity every day," say Schuemann. "But equally important is that caregivers should limit recreational video use to one hour a day," she says.
The solution proposed by APTA and Schuemann? Make daily exercise a "family affair." Schuemann says that many activities that help children raise their heart rates can be done as a family, such as regularly taking a brisk walk after dinner or participating in more vigorous activities, such as running, swimming, bike riding or roller blading. Other recommendations from Schuemann and APTA include:
Parents as Fitness Role Models
According to Schuemann, director of Skyline Hospital's Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Clinic in White Salmon, WA, parents are role models for their children's physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. "It's much easier for children to stay healthy and adopt good habits if they see their parents making exercise a priority," she says. Schuemann also advises parents to emphasize a healthy lifestyle instead of focusing solely on weight, supporting their children's healthy choices rather than pounds lost. "Like most lessons learned in childhood, how to achieve a healthy lifestyle will stay with children throughout their lifetime," she says.
Play to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes, traditionally found in adults, is now appearing in children as young as 4 years old. According to Schuemann, children who participate in sustained daily physical activity and who follow a balanced diet enjoy improved cardiovascular fitness and greater bone mass and strength, and are better able to manage their weight throughout their lifetime -- all of which help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Creating a Program with Longevity
Schuemann and other physical therapists often encounter children and adults who have experienced difficulties maintaining an exercise regime. "The guidance and encouragement of a physical therapist who understands individual needs and possible limitations and is able to closely monitor progress can often mean the difference between success and failure," Schuemann concludes.
The American Physical Therapy Association is a national professional organization representing 66,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students. Its goal is to foster advancements in physical therapy practice, research, and education.
* National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services
Quiz Question:
(If answered correctly you will be included in a drawing for a free one hour massage)It is easier for children to be healthy and adopt good habits if their parents make exercise a priority :
True
False
Answer Here