Access Physical Therapy & Wellness: May 2015

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Picking the Right Suntan Lotion

Now that the weather is getting nicer and the sun is getting stronger, we have to remember to protect ourselves from the potentially dangerous UV rays of the sun. With so many different sunscreens out there, it is hard to know which is the best one for you.

Many people believe that the higher the SPF number on the bottle, the more protection you will receive, but this isn’t true. Many researchers recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF that is higher than 15 but lower than 30. This is because when people use sunscreen with an SPF higher than 30 they tend to think that the sunscreen also lasts longer, so they do not reapply as frequently as they would with a lower SPF. This also is not true, as no matter what the SPF number on the bottle is, it should be reapplied regularly and frequently for maximum protection. Studies also show that a sunscreen with an SPF over 30 does not offer that much more protection.

If you are planning to spend the day at the beach where you are going in the water, or participating in any water-related activities, it is highly encouraged to use a water-resistant sunscreen. This too should be reapplied frequently to avoid any burns and/or skin damage.

There are also sunscreens that we should try to avoid because of the chemicals that are in them. While Oxybenzone absorbs UV rays, studies show that it can go into our bloodstream, which can damage cells. Retinyl Palmitate is another chemical that should be looked for. This type of Vitamin A when used on sun exposed skin can increase the chances of skin cancer.

Parabens can also be seen in certain sunscreens and can increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

Now that you have all the tips on what sunscreens to use and what not to use, you can get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather safely!

We feel like we have the best physical therapists around. Did you know you don't need a referral to get help from a Physical Therapist? Direct access is available for you, please call us and set up an evaluation so we can help get you back on your feet. In Orange County we offer Physical Therapy in Chester, Goshen, Monroe, Port Jervis, and Montogmery. Westchester County has Physical Therapy in Armonk, Bedford, and Hawthorne. In Ulster County we offer Physical Therapy in Wallkill, while in Sullivan County you can get Physical Therapy in Ferndale. To round out our 12 locations in New York, those living in Rockland County can go to Physical Therapy in New City as well as Pomona. If you happen to live in PA, we also have Physical Therapy in Milford and Dingmans Ferry of Pike County. Give us a call today!

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Better Hearing and Speech Month

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month! This year’s theme is “Early Intervention Counts.” What most people don’t know is that most hearing and speech problems are treatable, but are often overlooked. The longer these conditions go without being treated, the harder it is to treat them. That’s why this month, let’s spread awareness about early intervention. If conditions are recognized at early ages, the easier and quicker it will be to treat. The quicker these conditions are treated, the faster a patient can improve their quality of life.

This month is going to focus on technology and communication. Hearing and speech organizations are promoting the importance of human communication with smartphones and tablets. The advancement of technology is increasing rapidly and has become very popular among children.

At Access Physical Therapy & Wellness we offer speech, cognitive and swallowing therapy services. These services will be provided by Language Fundamentals Inc., a local, family owned organization that employs over 40 speech language pathologists. This service will be offered at Access Physical Therapy & Wellness in our Monroe, Montgomery and Port Jervis offices. Often patients suffering from ailments requiring all three disciplines find traveling very difficult. Providing physical, occupational and speech therapy service in three local communities makes receiving these therapies easier for our patients.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

With spring finally upon us and the weather getting warmer by the day, it is no wonder that May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. This month take some extra time for yourself and keeping your body healthy. The healthier you feel, the happier you will be. No matter what your age is, physical activity is great for everyone!

You may be wondering what exercising regularly actually does for your body. Well for starters, just going for a walk can decrease stress levels. When children and teens exercise regularly, it makes their muscles stronger, while increasing their heart and bone health. As for adults, exercising can decrease their chances of many different conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. It may seem dangerous for older adults to exercise, but physical activity decreases the risk of falls and can keep their cognitive functions strong and intact. All of these benefits of exercising are guaranteed to make you feel great mentally and physically.

Why not use this month to start your commitment to exercising and staying healthy. Exercising does not need to be boring or hard work; it can be as simple as going for a walk or a bike ride after dinner as a family. This alone can improve your health, and you will feel great! Also, having a friend to go with can help motivate you to get out there and exercise.

This month, take the time to spread awareness to your community and loved ones about all of the health benefits that come with exercising regularly. You will not regret it!

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

All You Need to Know About Functional Capacity Evaluations

What is a functional capacity evaluation? Functional capacity evaluation (FCE) is an evaluation on an individual’s capacity to perform the necessary work related activities in his or her field of employment. To sum it up, the FCE process helps evaluate a person’s ability to work in their respected environment. If a person becomes disabled or injured and cannot perform the necessary tasks done at their job, they may need to take a FCE before returning. Typically, the FCE is a physical assessment, but over the past few years, cognitive testing has also been used as a method of determining whether or not a person is capable to return to work. One may be asked to lift, carry, push and pull things when performing the FCE. Furthermore, positional activities such as sitting, standing, walking kneeling, reaching, crouching and many more are also usually a form of assessment. They usually last from 4-6 hours and in some cases, may be done over the course of two consecutive days. It is very important that the FCE be administered safely, so the client is not put in any harm whatsoever.

People that can benefit from FCE include:

A person attempting to gain Social Security Disability benefits
A person who has been injured on the job and wishes to return to work
A person seeking return to work after an illness or injury (outside of work)
A person seeking vocational rehabilitation services

Occupational therapy plays a major role in FCE’s because therapists will help the person set and achieve goals. They will also be able to analyze the patient and decide what is the best way to help them recapture the physical and cognitive skills they had before their injury, accident or illness. Disability status, workers’ compensation, and work ability status for vocational rehabilitation are all things that FCE’s can help with in determining the outcome. Therefore, occupational therapists are more than qualified to perform FCE’s and are the perfect practitioners to give a detailed overview of a patient’s current work abilities.

Besides needing FCE’s as a form of proof, they also provide a person with the necessary assurance that they need in order to feel confident and capable of working again. FCE’s are usually covered by workers’ compensation plans, insurance plans or individuals themselves. There are many different situations that people have to seek an FCE; therefore, it is best to do some research and find out how you can seek help in the best possible way.

- See more at: http://accessptw.com/blog/All-You-Need-to-Know-About-Functional-Capacity-Evaluations~1300.html#sthash.vNm571NL.dpuf

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

The Benefits and Issues of Pre-Employment Testing

What is pre-employment testing and how is it currently being used in our society? Pre-employment testing is how employers screen job applicants, testing may include but is not limited to: cognitive abilities, work skills, physical and motor skills, language proficiency, integrity and even drug testing at times. These tests help save the company time and cost during the position search. Furthermore, this process allows an employer to narrow down who is the perfect candidate for their open position.

Although there are extreme benefits to pre-employment testing, there can also be difficult issues involved. One issue is reliability. If an applicant scores high on his or her first test, but then very low the next time, the test may not be reliable. It is always best to look for consistency when searching for the right test. The second issue is validity. There may be tests that provide the employer with a clear understanding of the applicant’s skills. Nevertheless, there may also be tests in which the applicant scores poorly on, but the test does not exemplify their full set of skills or knowledge. For example, a writing sample may be a great way to showcase one’s writing ability, so that seems like a perfect pre-employment test for a content or technical writer. However, perhaps that applicant has the perfect skills for the open position, but that specific writing sample was not the proper choice to present to the employer.

The job market has become increasingly more competitive and because of this, employers want to ensure that they find the best candidate and most qualified applicant. Pre-employment testing helps narrow down the search by spotting the unqualified applicants first, and then choosing from the next round of applicants. However, employers believe it is best to not solely rely on testing when choosing your candidates. Pre-employment testing is a great way to help find the right candidate, but other factors such as personality, experience, education and work ethic should all be carefully considered as well.

Access Physical Therapy & Wellness is pleased to offer comprehensive industrial Rehabilitation services for small and large companies, across all industry categories. Access Physical Therapy & Wellness opened in 2003, originally as Montgomery Physical Therapy & Wellness. Over the past 11 years, we have grown to 15 offices, served over 33,000 patients, rendered over 511,000 treatment sessions and employ over 110 clinical, support, and clerical staff members. We were voted one of the Best Companies to Work for in New York in both 2011 2013 and 2015.