Access Physical Therapy & Wellness: August 2015

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Concussions in Football

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Football is widely considered the most popular sport in America due to its growing fan-base and the heavy amount of followers already existing. American’s can’t be blamed for falling in love with the game due to the fast paced, hard hitting style of play. A large majority of fans focus on the touchdowns and hits, but seldom think about the toll the game puts on the athlete’s bodies. With players getting bigger, faster, and stronger, the hits have gotten harder and harder. Concussions have become an epidemic in the sport and they’re now a major topic of conversation.

Although athletes are presented with the most up to date and safest models of helmets, they can only protect the head so much upon receiving a bone crunching hit. Concussions are caused by a blow to the head, in which the brain receives trauma from hitting the inner wall of the skull. There is a very small amount of room between the brain and the skull, but it is enough for the impact to cause the trauma. Although concussion symptoms seem to be short term, each concussion sustained by an athlete can bring longer lasting side effects and even long term brain injuries which could lead to disabilities. This fear is instilled in so many players that some choose to retire from professional careers before their skills diminish. Already, three impact players below the age of 26 retired from the National Football League this past year due to their fear of sustaining more concussions. These players had very bright futures in the league and left millions of dollars on the table to put their safety first. If this isn’t a wake up call for many parents to think about safety when it comes to football, we’re not sure what is.

Due to the increased attention put towards concussion prevention and treatment, there are many new advances in the field. Physical therapists are now equipped with knowledge of how to treat concussions and will attempt to ease the symptoms and make a clear road to recovery. They can help calm dizziness by practicing balance exercises, while accessing the stability of the neck because headaches can be attributed to neck pain. Once the physical therapist deems the patient fit to resume activity, they will be put on a light workout schedule to ease their way back into shape.

When playing a sport, safety should always come first. The pads and helmets may be able to protect against some injuries, but all it takes is a big hit at an awkward angle to make the protection seem non-existent. All athletes should seek medical attention at the slightest notion of having a concussion to ensure the safest outcome possible.

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!

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Physical Therapy for Ankle Injuries

If you’ve sprained or injured your ankle recently due to sports or daily activities, strengthening exercises should be performed. With most sprains you feel pain at the side of the ligament right away. Swelling will occur immediately and the ankle will be tender to touch. If you feel a pop or snap, chances are you won’t be able to walk. Following an ankle injury you should be icing it for at least 24 hours. A physical therapists should evaluate you soon after, where they can design a program for you to strengthen your ankle. Some sprains will require physical therapy to relieve the swelling and pain. Skilled hand movements called manual therapy and ice or heat treatments should be used by physical therapists. Severe sprains will require a special brace for extra support.

The swelling and pain will result in immobility of the ankle. Therefore a physical therapists will give safe exercises to restore full movement in your ankle. They know exactly what exercises to do based on the exact location of your ankle that’s injured. Special training exercises actually help your muscles learn and respond to changes in your environment like uneven surfaces. Stretches and electrical stimulation may also be used to help with the sprained ankle. When you’re finally able to put full weight on your ankle without pain your PT will most likely prescribe exercises enabling you to return to normal activities. Some challenges they may throw at you are standing on one leg or a wobble board. Once you could stand on one leg you are in a good position because most, if not all strength is regained.

There is no specific time frame that a sprained ankle will recover. As far as a torn ligament it can take around six weeks to heal, gain mobility and strengthen the muscle. If you have been injured and are experiencing pain of any sort feel free to stop into Access Physical Therapy & Wellness in the Long Island are. We will be sure to accommodate your pain with our special programs and get you back on your feet in no time.

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

How PT Can Help with Concussions

Concussions can be a very scary and dangerous injury for those who get them. In today’s world, concussions have become more and more common; we seemingly see dozens of professional, high school and college athletes suffer from the effects of concussions. Thankfully, with increased awareness and better medical technology, concussions are easier to diagnose and treat. However, without the proper treatment, concussions can have long lasting effects on a person’s health. Recent scientific evidence shows that proper care is needed to prevent the complications that stem from concussions.

A concussion is a type of brain injury in which a force causes the brain to move rapidly and hit the inside of the skull. This can cause a change in the brain’s chemistry and energy supply. Concussions normally result from direct blows to a person’s head, such as hitting your head from a fall but can also happen from indirect blows like whiplash. There are many symptoms that are associated with concussions which include: headaches, dizziness, nausea, balance issues, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, difficulty with short and long term memory, confusion, slower thinking, and difficulty with concentration. Usually, concussions are diagnosed with a MRI or CT scan.

The best treatment for a concussion is to rest until all your symptoms resolve. The brain cannot heal if you are exerting physical or cognitive energy on it. This is why most doctors will tell you to take a break from sports and to stay home from school. You can slowly return to normal activity once your symptoms improve and stay improved.

Physical therapy can be very helpful in treating a concussion. Because each person’s concussion is unique in its nature, a physical therapist will evaluate individual symptoms and limitations and then design a treatment program based on that. One way physical therapy can help is by stopping dizziness and improving your balance. Vestibular physical therapy can help you sense head movements, keep your eyes focused, and help keep your balance. A physical therapist can help provide specific exercises and treatments to reduce dizziness and improve balance and stability. Another way physical therapy can help is by reducing headaches. Physical therapists will check your neck and back to see if there are any injuries to your spine, which can often cause headaches and dizziness. Once your symptoms improve, a physical therapist will slowly incorporate physical activity into your regimen.

If you think you are suffering from a concussion, you should seek out medical help immediately. Remember that while physical therapy can be very helpful in treating concussions, rest is the most important part of your recovery.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Physical Therapy for Biceps Rupture

If you rupture a bicep you will experience a tear in the main tendon, that attaches the top of the biceps muscle to the shoulder. People who suffer from this injury can recover by doing physical therapy without needing surgery. Physical Therapy in Milford, PA can get you back on your feet from this injury giving you 100% of their time. It happens to most middle aged people who have years of putting stress on their body from weight lifting or playing sports. Curling weight is a classic example of how the injury occurs. Also athletes such as football players, skiers, gymnasts, tennis players, rowers, boxers, wrestlers and throwers are at a higher risk of tearing the bicep. Lucky enough Physical Therapy in Milford, PA deals with sports injuries very often.

If you are experiencing any symptoms such as:

Possible snapping sound
Loss of strength
Tenderness in the shoulder
A bulge in the upper arm or a dent close to the shoulder
Bruising from the upper arm to the elbow
Difficulty when trying to bend the elbow and rotating the forearm outward
Muscle spasms

It would be in your best interest to seek help as soon as possible. Physical Therapy in Milford, PA would be more than delighted to help see you recover, as they deal with patients who suffer injuries like this all the time. Non-surgical rehabilitation will normally result in electrical stimulation and exercises to gradually gain the strength back. You will need to avoid any heavy lifting for awhile until the strength is back to a well stable point. If you do get the surgery you will need to do physical therapy also. Access Physical Therapy and Wellness will gradually have you begin exercises to improve movement in the forearm, elbow, and shoulder. You need to be careful to avoid doing too much, too quickly. So if you plan on getting to a full recovery don’t forget to call Physical Therapy in Milford, PA.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Parkinson's Disease and Physical Therapy

Everyone has heard of Parkinson’s Disease, but many people do not know what it is or what occurs when a person is suffering from it. Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the central nervous system of middle-aged and elderly people. This means that symptoms are chronic and worsen over time. About 1 million people in the United States suffer from Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s Disease is most commonly linked with the overall degeneration of the basal ganglia and very low levels of dopamine. The basal ganglia is the structure at the base of the brain that is responsible for coordination and movement. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting signals between nerve cells in the brain. Overall, Parkinson’s Disease causes a person to lose control of their muscles, balance and coordination.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease vary depending on the person, their age, and the stage of Parkinson’s that they are suffering from. The number one symptom that is prominent in most cases, and often the first one noticed, is tremors. Tremors are uncontrolled shaking in body parts such as hands, arms and legs. Tremors occur when the person is awake and sitting or standing still. Tremors will stop once that particular body part is moved by the person. Some of the other symptoms include stiff or aching muscles, limited movement when changing position, weak face and throat muscles that can lead to drooling and choking, softened speech, difficulty walking, loss of balance, and “freezing”. “Freezing” occurs typically while walking and is a quick inability to move or take another step. “Freezing” often leads to loss of balance and falls.

One of the new treatments that has been found to help reduce symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease and thus improve a person’s overall quality of life if physical therapy. Physical therapy that is used for Parkinson’s Disease patients is called “compensatory therapy”. It is called this, because although Parkinson’s Disease is currently irreversible, physical therapy helps to compensate for some of the symptoms that affect the people suffering from the disease. The goal of the physical therapy that is taught to Parkinson’s patients is to teach them exercises that can be done at home to strengthen and loosen muscles that are typically affected. The physical therapy that is currently being performed on Parkinson’s patients has been found to help with balance issues, coordination difficulty, immobility, muscle weakness, pain, and fatigue brought on by exerting oneself in order to perform daily tasks while suffering from the disease.

LSVT Big is one of these physical therapy programs that has been developed for people with Parkinson’s Disease. LSVT Big is composed of 16, hour long sessions that are given over one month. Each week is composed of 4 individual, hour long sessions that work to decrease the toll that Parkinson’s Disease takes on a person’s body. The intense nature of this program is designed to improve the capabilities of the specific muscles that are typically affected by Parkinson’s Disease.

In the past few months, 3 women at Access Physical Therapy & Wellness have become certified by LSVT Big to help people that are suffering with Parkinson’s Disease. Physical Therapist Kristin Banse, Physical Therapist Assistant Ellen Knapp-Hayden, and Dr. Amanda Staffiero chose to become certified. Ellen Knapp-Hayden says she made the choice to become certified because “We were looking for a forward-thinking therapy we could learn, that was needed in the communities we serve”.

- See more at: http://accessptw.com/blog/Parkinson-s-Disease-and-Physical-Therapy~1509.html#sthash.ssPeV84W.dpuf

Looking for a Physical Therapist in Pomona?

Are you suffering from condition that causes you chronic pain such as fibromyalgia or arthritis? Did you sustain an injury while working or playing a sport? If you need physical therapy in Pomona, look no further than Access Physical Therapy and Wellness. We treat a variety of conditions and injuries through different techniques. We also treat pain care and management using many common techniques including epidural injections and TENS. We have three physical therapists, one physical therapist assistance, and our customer service specialist, who are available to help you with your physical therapy in Pomona. Access Physical Therapy does not just help athletes by treating sports related injuries, we also help athletes increase their skill, strength and ability. Our website has a list of the conditions and injuries that we treat. If you do not see your injury or condition listed, give us a call to see if we can help you. We see patients of all ages for various injuries. We accept a wide variety of different insurance coverage plans, to see if we accept your insurance either visit our website or give us a call. Access Physical Therapy and Wellness has multiple locations including a location for physical therapy in Pomona. If you need physical therapy in Pomona and think Access Physical Therapy and Wellness is the right fit for you, give us a call or visit our website. - See more at: http://accessptw.com/blog/Seeking-Physical-Therapy-in-Pomona-~1505.html#sthash.Np2QMxtQ.dpuf