Treatment Archives

18Feb 2021 by Brigitte B

Are You Making the Most of Your Direct Access to Physical Therapy?

Health content, Pain, Prevention, Treatment

While many states places restrictions on access to physical therapy, Colorado is among those that permit "direct access" to PT. If you live in Colorado, are you reaping the benefits of that? What is direct access? Direct access to physical therapy means that insurance will cover your evaluation and treatment services with a physical therapist without requiring a referral from your physician or other healthcare professional. Direct access is sometimes called "self-referral," because you simply make your own appointment and go to a PT for treatment if you’re experiencing pain or other relevant condition. Direct access to physical therapy can save you time and money by getting the services you need faster. Who has direct access to physical therapy? All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin…

04Feb 2021 by Brigitte B

Seek Physical Therapy Before Lower Back Pain Becomes Chronic

back, Health content, Pain, Treatment

If you're one of the 8 in every 10 people who experience lower back pain severe enough to think you should probably seek treatment, be assured that it's probably not due to a serious problem. You may connect your low back problem to: A lot of sitting, including sitting to drive. Improper stance when bending or lifting. Poor overall physical condition. Aging. As we age, our muscles weaken and we may experience stiff joints. These both can cause pain in the low back area. Easy solutions to lower back pain You may not consider good nutrition an important tool in keeping your back healthy, but eating well benefits your whole body. Specifically, vegetables with anti-inflammatory properties have been shown to ease this pain. Sleep is another general health aid. It…

25Mar 2020 by Brigitte B

Prevent and Treat Hammertoe: Better Shoes Are Just Part of It

foot, Health content, Pain, Prevention, Treatment

Women love shoes. Not all women and not all shoes, but many women like the way a little bit of heel and a pointy toe can take an outfit from everyday wear to nighttime splendor. Men, too, may prefer a sleek, narrow dress shoe for a professional appearance. Unfortunately, those good looks can add up over the years to form the hammertoe that many seniors experience. If this has already happened to you, is it too late to fix it? What Is Hammertoe? Hammertoe refers to an imbalance in the muscles, tendons and ligaments surrounding middle toe joints. When one of these parts weakens, the toe may have a hard time returning to a neutral position. When the toe is stuck in a bent position, eventually the muscles tighten so…

18Mar 2020 by Brigitte B

Back Surgery to Decrease Pain: 3 Tips to Prepare and What to Expect Afterward

back, Health content, Pain, Treatment

Like many other older adults with chronic back pain, you may decide with your doctor that back surgery is the next step. An astounding 70-95% of adults will experience lower back pain in their lifetime. Even dull aches can affect your quality of life if they're consistent. When your back is sore, you may find that you're limiting activities you love to do, whether that’s tinkering around the house, going on hikes, or exploring a new city on foot while on vacation. If you’ve reached the point that back surgery seems to be your best option, knowing what to expect can help ease fears and make you less apprehensive about the procedure. What to do before surgery for back pain Talk to more than one doctor. Consider getting a…

20Nov 2019 by Brigitte B

The Flexible, Stable Ankle and Fall Prevention

ankle, Health content, Treatment

If you’re over 65, you have likely heard that you need to make sure you don’t fall. However, many people don’t know how to do that; how can you make sure something doesn't happen? But since falls can limit mobility, well-being, and even lifespan, it’s important that you understand how to keep yourself safe and upright. The ankle is key to stability Dozens of factors contribute to falling in an older population, and ankle strength and flexibility are high on that list. When you think about what is keeping you upright, you may not consider your ankles. However, they are part of your solid foundation. You probably don’t even realize that you are unconsciously adjusting your ankles when you're standing. Automatic adjustments are something your body does by itself. For…

06Nov 2019 by Brigitte B

Shoulder Pain? You May Not Need Surgery

Health content, Treatment

Pop, click, ouch! If moving your shoulder triggers pain, weakness, popping or clicking, you may have a tear or fraying in the cartilage that helps keep your shoulder in place. Let's talk medical That ring of cartilage is called the glenoid labrum, and it forms a rim around the site where your humerus (upper arm bone) fits into your shoulder socket. The cartilage is necessary for keeping your shoulder joint in place, since the head of the humerus is larger than the shoulder socket, somewhat like a golf ball on a tee. What can go wrong with the shoulder This design gives your upper arm its wide range of motion. That's the good news. But it also makes the joint somewhat unstable and prone to injury. Labral tears can be…

18Sep 2019 by Brigitte B

Is Active Aging Realistic? 4 Ways Physical Therapy Can Help You Live an Active Life

Balance, Exercise, Health content, knowledge, Treatment

Active aging is every senior’s dream come true. It’s a promise of leading a complete and engaged life, when the effects of aging don’t stop you from living to the fullest. But is active aging realistic? Yes! Contrary to popular belief, getting older doesn't have to set you on a downward spiral into declining mental and physical health. Many signs regarded as a "normal" part of aging can be minimized or even prevented. Physical therapy is one tool for helping to turn back the clock and make you feel like your more youthful self again. When we break down the typical decline, we can manage the pieces one by one: 1) mobility, 2) endurance and 3) strength, all contributing to 4) independence. 1. Mobility About 35 percent of people over…

20Aug 2019 by Brigitte B

Trading Opioids for Physical Therapy: There’s A Medication-Free Solution For You

Health content, knowledge, Pain, Treatment

Aging bones and bodies bring on a fragility that makes the elderly more susceptible to breaks, fractures, and surgeries. Many are offered opioid drugs as the best solution to deal with the unbearable pain that results. But more than 130 people die every day from opioid-related drug overdoses, creating an epidemic that is currently a national crisis. Is risking your health and life the only way to find relief from pain? Thankfully, it's not. Trading habit-forming prescription drugs like opioids for physical therapy may be the best swap you'll ever make for three reasons: 1. PT is a true treatment for pain. Opioids make you feel better because they interrupt pain signals to your brain. But they do nothing to actually heal your body and keep you from suffering in…

27Apr 2018 by Patrick Donovan

I Tore My Meniscus. Now How Do I Fix It?

knee, Treatment, Uncategorized

What is a Meniscus Anyways? Meniscus lesions account for almost one quarter of all knee injuries. Whether it’s an acute trauma or repetitive chronic degeneration we ask the menisci to cushion the knee. Your menisci mainly function to distribute stress across the knee during weight bearing activity. Injuries to this cartilage impair your ability to absorb shock and cause misalignment between the joint surfaces. Think of them as car’s suspension between the body and the wheel. They are important to absorb impact and distribute braking power evenly across the joint. It is no surprise that older individuals have a higher rate of meniscus tears compared to younger individuals. Older adults develop faulty movement mechanics, more osteoarthritic changes, and joint degeneration. What’s strange is that surgical remedies differ depending on your…

11Apr 2018 by Patrick Donovan

It’s Not Too Late to Fix Your Bunions

ankle, foot, Treatment

What is a Bunion? A frequent cause of disability from foot pain is the bunion. A bunion typically appears as A bony bump that forms on the base of the big toe. They affect some 35% of women over the age of 65. If left untreated and allowed to progress to its eventual end stage, the deformity can impair your ability to perform every day activities like walking or stair climbing. At this end stage surgery is the recommended treatment solution to resolve the deformity. But get this - up to 15% of bunions return following surgery. The reason for this is simple. It is because the underlying muscle weaknesses that lead to your original bunion formation still remain. Weak muscles directly contribute to the formation of your bunion but…