Physical Therapy : The ankle bears the weight of our body making it highly prone to injuries. Indeed, one of the most common injuries to the human body is ankle injury, which can typically be sprains or strains, inflammation of the Achilles tendon or Achilles tendonitis and fractures.
There are many possible reasons for any of these problems from wearing improper or inappropriate footwear to overuse of the muscles in your ankle and trauma caused by accidents. Ankle injury can happen to you whether you are an athlete, a sales person required to stand for long hours in your job, or if you simply tripped while walking.
Ankle physical therapy helps manage pain, reduce inflammation, improve flexibility, and strengthen the muscles in your ankle. Ankle physical therapy begins with a thorough evaluation of your ankle injury. Your physical therapist will also review your medical history to find out if you have related problems such as arthritis or diabetes. To help diagnose your exact injury, your physical therapist will examine your gait by asking you to walk or run.
Your physical therapist will also check the range of movement and strength of your ankle as well the blood circulation and sensation in the injured area. Before proceeding with ankle physical therapy, your therapist will also have to look for possible misalignments and ligament injuries.
An effective ankle physical therapy incorporates several exercises that usually start with improving the range of your ankle’s movements and then gradually moving into strengthening exercises with the use of weights and then finally performing exercises to improve your balance.
In addition to exercise programs, ankle physical therapy may also include massage and other techniques such as electrical stimulation, ankle joint mobilization, pulsed ultrasound therapy and fluidotherapy, which both makes use of heat to promote healing.
Your physical therapist will design an ankle physical therapy program tailored to your needs. Your doctor may also provide you with orthotics or an appliance to help in rehabilitating your ankle such as braces or shoe inserts. You will most likely have to give up or at least put on hold some of your activities whether it is work or playing a sport.
Your doctor will provide you with an exercise program that you can do at home even after you have completed your ankle physical therapy sessions. Your doctor will also educate you on how to prevent future injuries, which in ankle physical therapy is equally important to quick recovery.
Hype of Hydrotherapy
Doesn’t water suggest life? Since the dawn of time, water has possessed an overflow of revitalizing healing properties. Water cleanses, purifies, soothes. In more medical terms it eliminates inflammation and infection. Helping healing better, and more cheaply, than many of our chemically advanced concoctions, the simple molecule does so much more it may be futile to ask why – just how.
In hydrotherapy or aquatic physical therapy, patients are gently immersed in warm water. This form of underwater therapy aims to assist patients to overcome conditions where movement is limited because of paralysis or pain, or where the patient’s muscles have been weakened due to injury or illness. Water immersion allows patients to exercise painlessly, even pleasurably, aiding a hasty recovery from a wide variety of conditions.
Aquatic physical therapy has been used for decades as an integral part of treatment for severe arthritis or post knee or hip surgery. Fibromyalgia or rheumatic syndrome, a condition characterized by body aches, pain, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and anxiety, combined with tenderness and whose cause is unknown.
Ankylosing Spondylitis, a form of arthritis where the spinal vertebrae become progressively inflamed and the spine eventually becomes fused, making movement very limited, also benefits from the hydro treatment. Even in some serious neurological conditions, the aquatic physical therapy can increase mobility as well as the power in the muscles by allowing movement in muscles normally unable to move. Though it cannot help the illness, aquatic physical therapy can also help to re-instruct muscles to get over damage from stroke or accidents.
Regrettably, aquatic therapy still has its share of limitations. Pure water therapy cannot help patients who are incontinent for hygiene reasons, as well as those with skin conditions or allergies to chlorine. And it is unsuitable for people who have high blood pressure as hydrotherapy raises the blood pressure.
Nonetheless, hydro/aquatic physical therapy especially helps therapists help their patients because being immersed in warm water makes the buoyant movement much easier as the water lifts the limbs, improving joint movement and getting the joints working effectively again, in contrast to painful movement against gravity.
The qualified aqua therapist has three primary objectives in performing therapy in warm water for his patients: to abolish gravity, allowing the body to float and amplifying the power in the muscles, and providing greater movement of a specific limb or joint; to conduct gentle exercises because of its effective resistance to movement; and to relax the muscles and ease the pain with the water’s warmth and healing powers. And to look at it simply, hydrotherapy is just an underwater exercise
Why Physical Therapy is for You – Benefits of Physical Therapy
When one hears the words physical therapy, what most likely comes into mind are masseuses. Yet physical therapy delves much deeper than your typical run-of-the-mill masseuse. The benefits of physical therapy far outweigh those of regular massages from untrained masseuses.
It’s a far cry from the indiscriminate kneading and pounding of some masseuses. They only make you feel better for awhile, sort of like a placebo. One of the benefits of physical therapy compared to massages is that physical therapy cures you.
There are virtually hundreds of benefits of physical therapy, but the key benefits are to evaluate physical problems, increase and maintain muscle strength and endurance, restore and increase joint range of motion, increase coordination, decrease pain, decrease muscle spasm and plasticity, decrease swelling and inflammation of joints, promote healing of soft tissue lesions, prevent contracture and deformity of limbs, alleviate walking problems, educate patients and family, decrease stress and a whole lot more too numerous to mention. These are but a few of the benefits of physical therapy.
Regular massages from untrained individuals may prove beneficial in some ways, but in the long run and more bang for the buck, physical therapy very much eats the competition for lunch. The benefits of physical therapy depend greatly on the treatment methods that physical therapists utilize.
Some examples are joint mobilization, soft tissue release, trigger point release, manual therapy, myofascial stretching, muscle re-education, modalities, therapeutic exercise, re-conditioning program, specific strengthening of weak muscles, and a home exercise program to name a few.
These methods are not only far superior to indiscriminate kneading and pounding, but proof of the scientific nature of physical therapy. The benefits of physical therapy are not only for instant gratification in terms of comfort, but the benefits are a long term solution for afflictions, a lasting cure for those who need it.
I am reminded of a friend who had a sore back. Instead of seeing a physical therapist, he went to a masseuse for instant relief. He did get instant relief, but after a few days, his spine grew worse and now walks with a permanent limp and crooked back. He himself says that he should’ve gone to a physical therapist and regrets not having gone. This is a perfect, if tragic example to the benefits of physical therapy, and the pains and risks of leaving your health in the hands of untrained masseuses.
When Do You Need Carpal Tunnel Release Physical Therapy?
What is carpal tunnel? Carpal tunnel is the term for a vessel found in the hand, which contains many other important nerves. Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when there is pressure or inflammation in the nerves within the carpal tunnel.
The initial treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome is non-surgical. However, if symptoms do not improve or the condition persists for more than six months, your doctor will most likely recommend surgery, also known as carpal tunnel release, to ease the pressure on the carpal tunnel.
What happens in a carpal tunnel release? Carpal tunnel release is a surgical procedure, which involves cutting the surrounding tissues on the wrist to lessen the pressure on the affected nerve. The traditional method of surgery is open release surgery, wherein the doctor widens the carpal tunnel by cutting the ligament through an incision made on the wrist about two inches in size.
Another type of carpal tunnel release surgery is endoscopic surgery, which often requires two incisions, each half an inch in size, one on the wrist and another on the palm. Some doctors may make only one incision on the wrist. Next, the doctor inserts a tube with a camera through one of the incisions and by observing the onscreen view of the affected area, the doctor efficiently proceeds with cutting the carpal ligament. Endoscopic surgery provides quicker recovery, minimal post-surgery discomfort and less scarring than open release surgery.
Patients may have carpal tunnel release done on one or both hands. Patients are usually under local anesthesia during the surgery but some cases may require general anesthesia. Carpal tunnel release is an outpatient procedure so patients do not have to stay in the hospital overnight.
After surgery, your focus will naturally be a speedy recovery. It is important to note that complete recovery may take several months. Patients should go through carpal tunnel release physical therapy to strengthen the wrist. If it is not necessary for you to change your job, your therapist may ask you to change some work habits or adjust some activities that may affect your recovery.
Doctors usually recommend carpal tunnel release physical therapy when patients are undergoing surgery on both hands. In this case, the patient undergoes carpal tunnel release physical therapy in between surgeries to advance the recovery process. When recommending carpal tunnel release physical therapy, doctors look at the extent of the surgery and the condition of the operated area. While carpal tunnel release physical therapy is not compulsory, it will certainly contribute to a faster recovery.
Cervical Stenosis Treatment
What is Cervical Stenosis? The vertebrae are a series of bones connected to each other forming the neck, also known as the cervical spine. The spinal canal, which encloses the spinal cord, runs through the vertebrae. The spinal cord contains major nerves that allow arm and leg movements, sensation, including bladder control and bowel movements.
Cervical stenosis is the condition characterized by the narrowing of the spinal canal. It occurs with age as the intervertebral discs starts to lack water content and hardens. The discs can shrink in height and stick out into the spinal canal. Spinal joints also bulge and protrude into the spinal canal. When the spinal canal narrows, the resulting pressure on the spinal cord leads to another condition called cervical myelopathy, which affects nerve functions.
Cervical stenosis usually does not have symptoms. If it has advanced to cervical myelopathy, the patient may experience neck and arm pain, weakness, and difficulty in moving the arms and legs. Incontinence also occurs in later stages of the disease. Symptoms may appear gradually or develop rapidly.
Early detection plays a crucial role in the prevention and treatment of cervical stenosis and cervical myelopathy. Your doctor will perform a physical examination and diagnostic tests and recommend an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging ) and CT (Computed Tomography) scan to be able to see the level of narrowing of the spinal canal. You may have to undergo other tests for a complete diagnosis.
What are the treatments for Cervical Stenosis? Depending on the stage of cervical stenosis, treatments may be operative or non-operative. Usually, patients who have severe fragility and pain in the affected areas and difficulty in walking require surgery. Non-operative or conservative treatment, which includes cervical stenosis physical therapy, is ideal for mild cases.
Patients should understand that cervical stenosis physical therapy would not reduce the narrowing of the spinal canal or bring it back to normal size. The goal of cervical stenosis physical therapy is long-term pain management and increased function that will enable the patient to control pain effectively and function normally without having to undergo surgery.
Cervical stenosis physical therapy starts with improving flexibility in the neck, arms and legs through stretching exercises. It is also important to increase circulation and develop endurance in the arms and legs with cardiovascular exercises such as swimming and treadmill exercises.
Your therapist may also add strengthening exercises in your program. While most of these exercises are always under professional supervision, your therapist will also provide you with exercises that you can perform independently.
Supervised cervical stenosis physical therapy may take three or more months. If your condition does not improve after cervical stenosis physical therapy, your physician will then recommend surgery.
The Down Syndrome
Parents of a child with Down syndrome have their hands full just trying to get used to their child’s condition. What could get them more dubious is when someone suggests that their child should have a physical therapist. Why physical therapy? Won’t he learn to walk and run, just like other children do?
Down syndrome and physical therapy may be an odd pair yet the parent should realize the inherent benefits that physical therapy could offer. First of all, the arrangement of Down syndrome and physical therapy offers the child one of the most important services he will receive in the early intervention period. It is during this early phase that the Down syndrome and physical therapy match will have the greatest chemistry to improve the child’s condition in the future.
Although the limitation of having a child with a Down syndrome and physical therapy as his early treatment is apparently that it does not accelerate the rate at which the child achieves his total motor skill, physical therapy still helps the child in avoiding his development of abnormal compensatory movement patterns.
A child having a Down syndrome and physical therapy deficit are nearly certain that they will develop the following compensatory movement patterns: standing and walking with hips in external rotation, knees stiff, feet flat and turned out, sitting with trunk rounded and pelvis tilted back, and standing with a stomach out and back arched, in a more pronounced, difficult, and precarious way.
While it is true that your child is going to learn how to walk eventually and that what is only takes is for you wait more patiently, it would still be more worthwhile if you avoid making that wait wasted. Physical therapy during this development stage is so powerful in preventing impending orthopedic problems in your child once he reaches his adolescence and adulthood.
Otherwise his physical functioning will have the tendency to be impaired later in life. Physical therapy can help a child with a Down syndrome by proactively teaching him some optimal movement patterns to developed strength in particular muscles.
And aside from eliminating the compensatory movement patterns that the child with a Down syndrome is prone to, physical therapy can also help the child in attaining a mastery of his total motor development. His total motor development – rolling over, sitting, crawling and walking are the first challenges he will meet in life. Hence this will also be his first area of strength.
Once the both of you has learned how to walk, your team will advance to refining the pattern, ultimately allowing you to access community recreation programs like ‘gymboree’, dance, gymnastics, or any other program that you both would enjoy in.
About Dynamic Physical Therapy
Located in the northwestern part of Michigan, Dynamic Physical Therapy has been delivering physical therapy treatment since it began in 1995. The company has a team of professional physical therapists and specialists led by two Directors, both of whom are also licensed and experienced physical therapists themselves.
Dynamic Physical Therapy has a personal approach to treatment, which ensures that each patient gets undivided attention and high quality care. Dynamic Physical Therapy has a one-to-one policy wherein one patient has one dedicated physical therapist from the beginning to the end of the patient’s therapy program.
In addition to its affordable services, Dynamic Physical Therapy accepts most insurance and workers compensation, offers flexible payment options as well as assists its patients with insurance filing and other billing matters. Dynamic Physical Therapy works closely with the patient’s doctor, insurance company and employer.
Patient convenience and comfort is also a priority for Dynamic Physical Therapy so they make sure that appointments and consultations are on time and available day and night including lunchtime. Because they have a ready staff of licensed physical therapists, most patients are able to get an appointment within a day. Dynamic Physical Therapy has five accessible locations in Michigan.
Dynamic Physical Therapy provides expert therapy services to treat a wide-range of bone and muscle injuries whether caused by a sport or work-related accident or for any other reason. Dynamic Physical Therapy treats musculoskeletal disorders in the hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, neck and back down to the hip, knees, ankle and foot. Dynamic Physical Therapy also offers rehabilitation after joint replacement and other surgical procedures.
Dynamic Physical Therapy also offers vestibular therapy services to help with the treatment of balance disorders including motion sickness, vertigo, blurred vision, dizziness and others.
For injured workers, Dynamic Physical Therapy offers a rehabilitation program customized to the individual’s work life. The program aims to provide an injured worker a speedy recovery, which allows the worker to go back to work as soon as possible and keeps him or her from losing significant income.
Among the customized work conditioning programs offered are functional capacity evaluation or FCE, work simulation, improvement of body movement and posture, endurance training, and cardiovascular conditioning. The therapist may also design home exercise programs to further the progress of recovery. Moreover, the rehabilitation program educates the worker on how to prevent re-injuries.
Dynamic Physical Therapy combines motivation and attentive care with professional therapy to help patients recover from their injuries and become stronger and healthier individuals.
Equine Physical Therapy – As With That of Humans but For Horses
The practice is only a new one, yet for the care of our horses, it is remains important to learn what equine physical therapy can do apart from its limitations. All the same, the basic approaches of equine physical therapy are already that helpful in warming up and stretching the horse prior to competition and the application of cold and heat if such injury ever occurs – very much like sports warm-ups and injury prevention.
Equine physical therapy developed from people who believe that horses’ physiological make up is also susceptible to the same injuries or disease that the bodies of human athletes are also prone to having. In fact, most practitioners of equine physical therapy are previous sports trainers and therapist or dual- specialists.
The best equine physical therapists are those referred by veterinarians and those who are affiliates of the National Equine Therapists Association, an organization formed in 1987 aiming to improve the standards by advocating the establishment of a certification exam for equine therapists as just one of their major goals.
Other goals of equine therapists are parallel to those that the physical therapists seek to reach. They include pain reduction, restoring range of motion, restoring strength, and injury prevention. Equine physical therapy for horses employs a number of methods and techniques ranging from simple stretching exercises to use of sophisticated equipment.
And as these therapeutic methods and techniques are useful in many ways, they are non-invasive in nature. However, once the horse’s condition becomes visibly severe, the on-going process must be reversed and rehabilitation ensues as a much more challenging task.
And while the athletic trainer or sports therapist of the human sports-med works adjunct with the sports physicians/orthopedics, the role of the equine horse therapist is also to work cooperatively with the veterinarian in the setting up and carrying out of conditioning and rehabilitation programs for sports horses.
He administers first aid to the injured, utilizes protective devices or injury preventive equipment, and applies therapeutic equine modalities to ease the discomfort of injury and facilitate exercise. Horse stretching and heat and cold therapy are just among his specialties – ice, heat, water, electricity, light, sound, exercise, and stretching – very much like human sports therapy. After all, equestrian and horse-race are also sports very well