Physical Therapy Life

How physical therapy can help treat the recurrence of back pain Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is a term used to describe patients that haven’t had a successful result with back surgery or spine surgery and continue to experience debilitating back pain post-surgery.  5% of all patients who undergo spinal surgery will experience recurrences of back pain.  Spinal surgery is recommended for patients in order to accomplish one of 2 goals: Decompress a nerve root that is pinched Stabilize a painful joint. Unfortunately, spinal surgery isn’t a cure-all for all patient’s back pain. Therefore, it’s important for patients who experience pain post spinal surgery to work with a physical therapist in order to identify non-invasive pain relieving modalities that can lower their incidence of pain. Chronic pain post spinal surgery can lead to additional problems including: Inability to perform daily and job tasks Increased medical care costs Over reliance on oral pain

​Cold Compression vs. Whole Body Cryotherapy Chamber : Cryotherapy chambers have a benefit, but when seeking relief from a chronic pain or injury, using a cold-compression device will be more effective in the long run.

physical therapy modalities for chronic headache pain Chronic headaches can be incredibly debilitating. Headache disorders are the most under-recognized and under-treated issue in rehabilitation . However, headache disorders are the most common disorder of the nervous system. From painful to disabling headache disorders are known as: migraine, tension-type headache, and cluster headache. Additionally, headaches can also be a secondary issue to another disorder which can lead to a heavy reliance and overuse of medication. Migraines are caused when an area deep in the brain is activated which leads to the release of pain-producing inflammatory chemicals effecting the nerves and blood vessels of the head. Chronic headaches can be caused by myriad circumstances including these most common events: Eye fatigue from computer overuse Poor posture Nerve Impingement Inadequate sleep Overexertion in physical activity Headache disorders are a public health issue leading t

the evolving care for patients with dpn One of the long term effects of Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a condition caused by long-term high blood sugar levels, is debilitating nerve damage. More than half of patients who have Diabetes will suffer from some form of neuropathy. The most common form of diabetic neuropathy is peripheral neuropathy which affects the legs, feet, toes, hands, and arms. ( source ) Sometimes patients won’t have symptoms associated with their neuropathy while others may suffer from one or a combination of the following issues: numbness or insensitivity to either pain or changes in temperature tingling, burning, or prickling sensation in the extremities acute, sharp pains or cramps in the extremities extreme sensitivity to touch reduced balance and coordination Skin ulcers on the feet are a common side effect of Diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Reducing activity and staying off the feet is the most common course of action for thos

Physical Therapy for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy : Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is an under-recognized side-effect of cancer treatment that has the ability to affect a patient’s quality of life long after cancer-treatment has been concluded.

Adult Americans who are employed full time report working an average of 47 hours per week , which equates to nearly six days a week, according to the Gallup Poll. These hours reported are more than an hour and a half more then what workers reported a decade ago and continues to climb. What’s more, 4 out of 10 employed workers actually log 50+ hours on the job.  While there are many workplace injuries that can lead to disability, office workers face a different type of injury that is a result of sitting for long periods of time with extended hours working on a computer or phone. Some of the most common workplace injuries are: Low Back Pain Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Headaches Neck Pain & Shoulder Pain Lateral Epicondylitis Workplace injuries cost an average of $250 billion annually. When office workers suffer from these types of injuries, it can lead to: Loss of work Increased medical costs for both the worker and employee Decreased ability to perform j

Here’s the good news: we’re living longer.  Here’s the bad news: we need to change our sedentary lifestyle, stat.  Hip replacements are on the rise.  Right now, there are about 175,000 hip replacements performed a year.  That number is expected to rise 174% in the next 20 years. A physical therapist can help identify the source of your hip pain and provide recommendations for relief The hip is the body’s largest joint.  You can thank that ball and socket joint for the fluidity of motion you have when you’re out on the dance floor or going for a run.  Now, whenever you use the hip, a cushion of cartilage helps prevent friction as the hip bone moves in its socket.  The hips were built for durability, but that doesn’t make them indestructible.  With use and age, the cartilage wears down or becomes damaged.  Sometimes, the muscles and tendons will be overused.  And, with age and the onset of osteoporosis, the hip bone can be fractured during a fall.  Any of these conditions can lea

How electrotherapy is effective in diverse patient populations Each person that requires rehabilitation is a unique case that requires individualized attention and planning in order to ensure successful treatment. Most patients have multiple issues that come with their diagnosis. For example, pain and swelling often go together and both must be addressed during a session. In order to maximize treatment time, therapeutic modalities are used because they are able to address multiple patient issues in one convenient device, thereby increasing therapeutic value and efficiency. Electrotherapy is a valuable modality in rehabilitation due to its broad and diverse treatment applications. Used either alone or with another therapeutic modality, electrotherapy is a powerhouse modality that can help: Reduce and manage pain Lessen swelling, inflammation and edema Stop muscular atrophy Increase blood flow and circulation Retrain muscles & improve range of motion Improve