Heather Lane's Blog Page

11Nov 2020 by Rosanne Ullman

How to Improve Your Hand Arthritis Without Surgery

It seems the older we get, the harder it is to perform precision movements like buttoning shirts or grip tasks like picking up a fork or opening a jar. Hand arthritis can cause joint damage and is one of the health conditions that can accelerate the hand’s aging. Hand arthritis can make it hard to complete mundane tasks with our fingers. But with physical therapy, you can stop and sometimes even reverse the effects of hand arthritis. Hand osteoarthritis vs. hand rheumatoid arthritis We hear a lot about arthritis in the hands, hips and knees. Two primary types of arthritis can cause pain in the hands. Osteoarthritis (OA) is by far the more common of the two, with 32.5 million adults suffering from it. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects a much smaller percentage…

29Oct 2020 by Rosanne Ullman

Engaging Mind and Body to Fight the Ugly Truth of Ageism

Health content, knowledge, Prevention

Fighting ageism keeps you busy! We receive humorous birthday card with the words “over the hill” displayed on the front. We excuse an ordinary error by saying we had a “senior moment.” Well-meaning friends compliment us with, “Wow! You look good—for your age.” We accept these everyday occurrences, but they are hurdles when it comes to fighting ageism. Ageism is a form of discrimination or prejudice as a result of your age. Ageism occurs in the workplace as well as in personal relationships. While younger people experience a different sort of ageism, seniors can find ageism detrimental to their wellbeing. Research shows this to be especially true when seniors believe the negative stereotypes associated with getting older. These stereotypes include memory issues, loss of independence, and developing new symptoms and…

14Oct 2020 by Rosanne Ullman

Seniors: Bike Saddle Pain Have You on the Hot Seat?

Health content, Pain

Riding a bike is great exercise for older adults—until that first twinge of bike saddle pain! During the pandemic, biking has provided a welcomed way for people of all ages to stay active. When seasonal changes like flowers or leaves offer a beautiful backdrop for your ride, your bicycle can glide you along a pathway of paradise and help you deal with stress. Riding a bike takes you outdoors, works your entire lower body and gets your heart pumping when you go uphill or put on a little speed. It’s a good mode of transportation as well, adding to neither your carbon footprint nor your city’s traffic gridlock. But then your butt starts to hurt with bike saddle pain. Don’t let saddle soreness keep you off your bike or force…

30Sep 2020 by Rosanne Ullman

Medicare Coverage for Physical Therapy, Part 3

Health content

This is the third and final installment of our series on Medicare coverage for physical therapy. Previously, our Medicare Part 1 provided an overview of Medicare. Medicare Part 2 explained how to obtain physical therapy coverage through Medicare Parts A and B, also called "original Medicare." To follow up, this installment explores opportunities to obtain Medicare coverage outside of those provided through original Medicare. The use of additional parts of Medicare is growing. As of 2019, 22 million Medicare members had a Medicare Advantage plan. A 2017 report found that 13.5 million Medicare members had a Medigap plan. Medicare Advantage and physical therapy Medicare Advantage, also called Medicare Part C, is an option that takes the place of original Medicare. All Medicare Advantage plans are required to cover everything that…

22Sep 2020 by Rosanne Ullman

Medicare Coverage for Physical Therapy: Part 2

Health content

In the first part of our Medicare series, we reviewed the parts of Medicare and talked briefly about Medicare coverage for physical therapy. Now let's dive into some of the details of Medicare coverage for physical therapy—exactly what’s covered and how much you’ll pay additionally. You'll remember that Medicare Parts A and B are referred to as "original Medicare," which is the most commonly used type of Medicare coverage. As of 2018, 66% of Medicare beneficiaries used original Medicare. Medicare Part A coverage of physical therapy services Medicare Part A covers the care you receive while you’re in the hospital or a skilled nursing facility as well as any home health care you receive. This often includes physical therapy. For example, when you have a procedure like a total knee…

09Sep 2020 by Rosanne Ullman

Clear Up Your Confusion about Medicare Benefits: The Complete Guide, Part 1

Health content, knowledge

Are you one of the nearly 60 million Americans currently enrolled in Medicare? Despite Medicare's broad use, many people are unsure of what all Medicare covers and how to use that coverage. Even after enrollment, Medicare's rules, deadlines and costs can be overwhelming. Parts A through D, hospital stays and home health care, supplements and prescribed medication—so much is involved! For example, you might know that you can use Medicare if you're admitted to the hospital or need to see a doctor, but you may be unsure how Medicare works when you need ancillary services such as physical therapy. To help our Heather Lane Physical Therapy community understand what to expect if you're enrolled in Medicare and need physical therapy, we've put together a 3-part series. This is Part 1,…

26Aug 2020 by Rosanne Ullman

What’s the Big Deal About Balance, and How Can it Affect You as You Age?

Health content

At least 1 out of every 4 Americans aged 65 and older experience a fall each year. That’s more than 29 million falls with 7 million injuries in just a year’s time! It’s easy to think that you are safe from falling—until the day where you take your own tumble. Fortunately, it’s easy to get your balance assessed and do some simple exercises to keep yourself upright as long as possible. Balance problems can stem from a number of factors. Vision problems can affect balance As we age, our eyesight tends to get worse. This can affect balance in major ways. If you can’t see, you won’t be able to accurately assess your environment for hazards such as uneven flooring and slippery surfaces. Eye problems not necessarily associated with aging…

12Aug 2020 by Rosanne Ullman

Why Sleep Changes When You Get Older (And How to Get Better Rest)

Health content, knowledge

Seniors and sleep often have a complicated relationship, leading older adults to question whether sleep is a friend or foe. Insomnia plagues nearly 50% of adults 65 and older, and millions more toss and turn every night because of other sleep-disrupting factors. Some seniors give up on eight hours of sleep altogether, rationalizing that they need less sleep now that they’re older. But our time needed in slumberland doesn’t change as we age. What does change are our sleep patterns—or our sleep "architecture." Even with the sleep changes we experience, we have ways to make sure we’re getting better, more restful sleep. Normal sleep vs. aging sleep Normally, people go through multiple sleep cycles at night. Each cycle lasts 90-110 minutes and consists of two states. The non-rapid eye movement…

29Jul 2020 by Rosanne Ullman

Physical Therapy is Helping Both Patients and Non-patients During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Health content, knowledge

Recovering from Covid-19 has proven to be unpredictable. As we now know, some people diagnosed with the virus experience no symptoms at all, others can feel as if they’ve had a mild flu with a timely recovery, and some people experience severe symptoms that require hospitalization. Although most of them recover, unfortunately there’s a growing number of patients who, months after diagnosis, still are reporting trouble getting back to feeling 100% like their “old selves.” As doctors study these mysteriously persistent symptoms, they do know how to relieve one troublesome aspect: the effects of long periods of being sedentary. Patients who have been on ventilators or for other reasons confined to hospital beds for days or weeks face challenges in getting back to their previous levels of activity. The cost…

15Jul 2020 by Rosanne Ullman

Advanced Osteoarthritis and Athletes: How Physical Therapy Can Help You Return To Competitive Sports

Arthritis, Exercise, Health content, knowledge, Pain

Joint pain can make even everyday activities challenging. For athletes, the degenerative pain of osteoarthritis can feel especially devastating. If you're used to the challenges and health benefits of participating in sports, slowing down is a big adjustment. The good news is that you may not have to give up your sport for long. With the right physical therapy and pain medication, you can get back to the activities you love, including athletics. What is advanced osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis is a condition that occurs when the cartilage that lines your joints starts to break down. Cartilage acts like a shock absorber when there is impact. If improperly stressed, over time the cartilage starts to crumble. It can occur in any joint on your body and is commonly seen in the knees…

Learn

How to Improve Your Hand Arthritis Without Surgery

Engaging Mind and Body to Fight the Ugly Truth of Ageism

Seniors: Bike Saddle Pain Have You on the Hot Seat?

Medicare Coverage for Physical Therapy, Part 3

Medicare Coverage for Physical Therapy: Part 2

Clear Up Your Confusion about Medicare Benefits: The Complete Guide, Part 1

What’s the Big Deal About Balance, and How Can it Affect You as You Age?

Why Sleep Changes When You Get Older (And How to Get Better Rest)

Physical Therapy is Helping Both Patients and Non-patients During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Advanced Osteoarthritis and Athletes: How Physical Therapy Can Help You Return To Competitive Sports

Interested in learning more?

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