Many types of pain and inflammation can be reduced with the help of a physical therapist, including low back pain, which affects up to 80 percent of Americans during their lifetime. Physical therapy that mobilizes the spine along with specific exercises can help alleviate the pain and can have long-lasting effects.

If you are at risk of heart disease, the American Heart Association encourages seeing a physical therapist for the initial treatment of pain resulting from tendinitis/bursitis, degenerative joint problems (osteoarthritis), and inflammatory joint problems (rheumatoid arthritis), rather than prescription pain medication.

Physical therapists are a great alternative to medication and surgery for musculoskeletal pain. Research shows individuals who receive active physical therapy experience greater improvement in function and decreased pain intensity.

No matter what part of your body hurts, a physical therapist can help you alleviate or manage pain without costly medication or other invasive methods.

No matter what area of the body ails you – neck, shoulder, back, knee – physical therapists have an established history of helping individuals improve their quality of life.

A physical therapist can help you improve your quality of life by moving freely again without pain and discomfort and feeling renewed and ready to move on. They can even help you prevent an injury altogether.

For instance, a study of 1,435 NCAA Division 1 female soccer players demonstrated that those who participated in a physical therapy program had an overall ACL injury rate 41 percent lower than those who did only a regular warm-up prior to practice.

Because physical therapists receive specialized training in a variety of sciences – physics, human anatomy, kinesiology (human movement), to name a few.

They understand how the body works and how to get you moving again. They know how to manage all four of the body’s major systems – musculoskeletal, neuromuscular,
cardiovascular/pulmonary, and integumentary (skin) – to restore and maximize mobility.

Whether you are living with diabetes, recovering from a stroke, a fall or a sports injury, a physical therapist is a trusted health care professional who will work closely with you to evaluate your condition and develop an effective, personalized plan of care.

A physical therapist can help you achieve long-term results for many conditions, such as repetitive stress injuries, arthritis, back and neck pain and posture problems.

While some may believe that the “no pain, no gain” mantra applies to physical therapy, they’re wrong, said physical therapist Lori Monson.

“We’re supposed to be reducing, not inducing pain,” said Monson, a partner in New York City-based Bradley & Monson Physical Therapy. “The old-school approach of no pain, no gain has been scientifically disproven. If you stretch the muscle until it hurts, you’re not going to get good results.”

Physical therapy is used to treat disorders of the muscles, bones and joints using heat, light, water, manual and electric massage, exercise and stretching, according to a definition found on Yahoo’s online encyclopedia. In some cases, whirlpool baths, ultrasound and short-wave diathermy are used to treat some disorders.

Physical therapists use the therapy to treat patients of all ages, including babies. Treatment is used for conditions resulting from a stroke, arthritis, nerve damage, fractures, muscle tears and chronic inflammation.

Monson said physical therapists are taught to use techniques that strengthen the joints in non-painful ways.

“We’re taught to go gently, asking where it hurts, and holding the position right before the painful place,” she said. “This can be effective for hips that are stiff from arthritis. The stretches are much more effective if they’re done without pain.”

Existing Pain

Often patients are sent to physical therapists when they have pre-existing pain from injuries or painful conditions such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and spina bifida. Surgical pain, especially from joint replacements, is also common. In these cases, physical therapy can be challenging, but won’t necessarily increase the existing pain, said Monson.

“Some people come to us because they’re pain is so bad, they’re not sleeping at night,” she said. “In this case, we’ll try to lesson the pain before physical therapy using ice or electricity and nerve stimulation. And, as a last choice, we’ll tell them to take some Tylenol 30 minutes before treatment.”

Pain may be unavoidable in the case of a frozen shoulder, a condition that often results in pain and loss of motion or stiffness in the shoulder. Because a frozen shoulder often results in the thickening and contracture of the capsule surrounding the shoulder joint, making it difficult and painful to move, said Monson.

“In some cases, if we can’t get a frozen shoulder to improve, we’ll send a patient back to a physician and have the patient get shoulder manipulation under anesthesia,” she said.

Talk to Your Doctor

In the majority of cases, however, patients should not experience pain during physical therapy, said Monson. And, if they do, they should talk to their therapists.

“The goal of physical therapy is to motivate someone to do the work they need to do to improve their conditions,” Monson added. “And there has been more evidence that has been discovered by science that pain is counterproductive. So, if you are experiencing pain, you should really talk to your physical therapist and see what they can do to lessen your pain.”

Watching Olympian Kerri Walsh compete in beach volleyball in the recent Olympics, many viewers were wondering the same thing: what is that black thing on her shoulder?

A tattoo? A bizarre fashion statement? No. Ms. Walsh was sporting a new type of athletic tape called Kinesio, touted by physical therapists as a better way to relieve pain and promote healing of injured muscles.

The appearance of Kinesio on the well-toned Ms. Walsh — she even wore it while meeting President Bush — has spurred international interest in the little-known brand.

In black, pink, blue and beige, the tape has been spotted on a number of other Olympians, including the shoulder of U.S. water polo player Lauren Wenger and the elbows of Canadian Greco Roman wrestler Ari Taub. Members of Spain’s basketball team and Jamaica’s track team are wearing it.

Ms. Walsh and the other athletes don’t have endorsement deals with Kinesio USA; the company simply donated 50,000 rolls of the tape to 58 countries for use at the Olympic Games.

But whether its appearance on the international athletic scene is a sign of its therapeutic benefit or just smart marketing remains to be seen.

Traditionally, white athletic tapes are wrapped around gauze to form a stiff bandage that immobilizes a joint or muscle. By comparison, the 100-percent cotton Kinesio tape is said to be modeled on the thickness and elasticity of real skin.

The flexible tape is applied to the skin in specific patterns, depending on the injury, a technique designed to create support and guide injured muscles and joints without limiting the athlete’s range of motion.
“This tape moves with the body, so the biomechanics are still there,” said John Jarvis, director of Kinesio USA.

Both the tape and the new wrapping technique have spread mostly by word-of-mouth among athletes, physical therapists and trainers who swear by it.

Cycling great Lance Armstrong reportedly dedicates a page to the tape in his latest book. Recently soccer superstar David Beckham traded jerseys after a game and was spotted with pink Kinesio tape on his back.

Some limited data suggest it may be effective. In July, the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy published a study of 42 people with shoulder injuries.

Half of them were treated with Kinesio tape applied in a pattern designed to support the injured muscle.

The other half were given a “sham” treatment in which two strips of tape were simply pressed across the arm. The study was conducted by physical therapists at Winn Army Community Hospital in Fort Stewart, Ga., who didn’t receive funding from the tape company.

Notably, the study participants who received the real therapeutic tape treatment reported an immediate improvement in pain.

Last year, Research in Sports Medicine published a study from San Jose State University showing that in 30 healthy test subjects, use of the tape along the lower trunk area appeared to increase the range of motion.

Kinesio claims that in addition to supporting injured muscles and joints, the new taping method helps relieve pain by lifting the skin, allowing blood to flow more freely to the injured area. The tape is also widely used in pediatric physical therapy for muscle disorders like cerebral palsy.

To learn more about this new therapy, contact Desert Springs Physical Therapy today!

Physical therapy is a health care specialty involved with evaluating, diagnosing, and treating disorders of the musculo-skeletal system.

The ultimate goal of physical therapy is to restore maximal functional independence to each individual patient. To achieve this goal, physical such as exercise, heat, cold, electricity, and massage are utilized.

Physical therapy is provided by physical therapists, who are licensed health care professionals with a master’s or doctorate degree in physical therapy. Physical therapists evaluate, diagnose, and manage the physical therapy treatment plan, customizing it to each individual’s needs.

Physical therapy is ordered by a physician when it is felt that such a course of treatment would be beneficial.

It is offered to a wide variety of patient’s including newborn babies, children, adults, and geriatrics.

Physical therapy is useful in treating many different medical disorders. and injuries, neurological and muscular illness, as well as cardiopulmonary diseases are only a few pathologic conditions which physical therapy plays a treatment role in.

Through patient and therapist interaction, physical therapy can help restore movement and function helping patients return to their prior level of independence.

Some of the conditions that physical therapists manage include:

• back and neck pain
• spinal and joint conditions, such as arthritis
• bio-mechanical problems and muscular control
• cerebral palsy and spinabifida
• heart and lung conditions
• sport-related injuries
• tension-type headaches
• stress incontinence
• neurological conditions, such as stroke and multiple sclerosis

See Suzanne Thomas at Desert Springs Physical Therapy in Silver City, NM for pain relief of all types.

You can schedule an appointment by calling (575)-534-1187 or Health care professional may fax a prescription to (575)-534-1439.

Physical Therapy Treatments

Electrical Stimulation (’Stim’) forces a muscle or muscle group to contract and relax. The therapist places a pair of surface patches containing electrodes on the skin over the area to be treated (e.g. low back).

Each patch attaches to a lead (insulated wires) connecting to equipment that controls and regulates the stim. The therapist programs the equipment to deliver the correct amount of stimulation for a set period of time.

The electrical current affects nerve and muscle cells, which may be at rest or reacting to the stimulus. The treatment is not painful. The patient feels a gentle pulsating or on and off sensation.

During this treatment circulation is stimulated supplying the target area with oxygen and nourishment necessary for healing. Physical Therapists have used electrical stimulation for more than 15 years to enhance healing, alleviate swelling, and pain.

Heat and Ice

Heat increases circulation, decreases stiffness, pain and muscle spasm. Patients with early signs of arthritis often find substantial relief from symptoms by taking a warm bath or hot shower.

This is best done early in the day to help loosen up and alleviate stiffness commonly associated with forms of arthritis (e.g. osteoarthritis). Physical therapists use moist hot packs wrapped in several layers of toweling that is laid or wrapped around the effected area.

Unlike a heating pad that only delivers surface heat, a moist hot pack transfers moist heat that penetrates deeply into soft tissues and stimulates local circulation more than heat alone.

Ice decreases pain by slowing the speed of nerve impulses. Inflammation, the body’s vascular response to injury may subside with forms of cold therapy. Cold reduces the temperature of tissue beneath the skin.

Cold packs, ice massage and iced towels are usually recognized as the first aid following trauma. Application of cold therapy for an extended period of time can harm the skin. Treating with ice should be supervised by a physical therapist, especially when treating an overworked body part.

Hydrotherapy is probably one of the oldest therapeutic treatments. Hydrotherapy is similar to a whirlpool bath. Whirlpool tanks are available in different sizes.

Some are designed to accommodate the entire body. During hydrotherapy both the water temperature and agitation are controlled for maximum benefit.

Myofascial Release (my-o-fash-e-al release) improves circulation, decreases muscular tension and increases range of motion. Myofascial release is a form of localized massage affecting the muscle fascia.

Muscle and groups of muscle are encased in sheets of fascia. During myofascial release, the fascia is manipulated by hand to systematically stretch the tissue. Scar tissue or tight tissue may be loosened using cross friction motion during massage therapy.

Ultrasound is a common treatment and has been in use for more than 40 years. It produces high-frequency sound waves that pass through the skin to promote deep warming of soft tissues (e.g. muscle). The warming effect enhances circulation and healing.

Ultrasound is often used to treat muscle spasm and to relax tight muscles. Unlike a hot pack, ultrasound works without harming the skin. The equipment controls the speed and duration of the sound waves.

Movement and Conditioning

All exercise is supervised by a physical therapist responsible for teaching the patient how to move properly while pushing beyond pain thresholds. Physical therapists want patients to work within a pain free range.

This does not necessarily mean exercise will be easy in the beginning. Remember the adage anything worthwhile is worth working for.

Warming-Up the body may be accomplished by riding a stationary bike followed by light stretching. Of course the type of warm-up and therapy is dictated by the patient’s individual treatment program.

Temporary muscle soreness 24 to 48 hours following exercise therapy is normal and should be expected. As regular exercise continues discomfort will subside. Stretching helps to increase flexibility. Resistive and strengthening exercises may be added as the patient progresses.

Some patients are not able to move the affected area without assistance. The physical therapist will then manually move the affected area (e.g. arm, leg) to increase range of motion.

Home Exercise

Physical therapy often includes a customized home exercise program. The instructions may include written and illustrated exercises. Always consult the therapist before starting or changing a physical therapy exercise program. If necessary, changes can be discussed with the patient’s physician.

Posture and Body Mechanics

Learning to use proper body mechanics is important to prevent further injury. If the patient is willing to maintain an adequate level of physical fitness, reduce stress, and use proper body mechanics, the risk of injury from activity can be reduced.

Proper posture means maintaining the natural curve of the spine or neutral spine. Good posture helps to minimize stress to the spine. Posture may be the first lesson a physical therapist teaches the patient. Poor posture and body mechanics are two of the leading causes of neck and back pain.

Good posture means the shoulders are held slightly back and level, the ears are in line with the shoulders, the chin is slightly tucked inward, and the pelvis is shifted forward allowing the hips to align with the ankles.

Avoid Stressful Work Habits

Avoid leaning over the desk for long periods of time. Don’t sit too far from the work area without the back supported.

Adjust the chair height so the knees are bent at a 90-degree angle. Bend the elbows at a 90-degree angle; elbows may rest on the work surface. Avoid cradling the telephone against the ear and shoulder.

Lifting and Carrying Tips

First, take a look at the object to be moved. If it appears to be too heavy or cumbersome, find help. Remove obstacles in the pathway before lifting the object.

Think about how you will maintain good posture. Get as close to the object as possible. Place the feet slightly apart and flat on the floor. Bend at the knees to provide a stable base of support.

Tighten the stomach muscles, keep breathing and smoothly lift the object using the arms and legs – not the back. Try to hold the object at the side and bottom. Keep it close to the body with the back straight and carry the object with the elbows slightly bent.

When carrying shopping bags or luggage, split the load in two. Try to carry the same amount of weight in each hand.

Push or Pull?

Pushing is usually more efficient. Keep the back straight and use the knees to push. Stay close to the object by repositioning the body from time to time.

Reaching Tips

Consider the size, weight and location of the object. Use a stable stool or ladder to get as close to the object as possible. Stand on the stool or ladder with both feet flat.

Try to directly face the object. One hand could be used for additional support. Avoid looking overhead as this could cause neck strain. Consider storing often-used items within easy reach.

This article is an excerpt from a book titled Save Your Aching Back and Neck, A Patient’s Guide (Second Edition, May 2002, completely revised).  Reprinted with permission

Some golfers believe that muscle-strengthening exercises, particularly weight lifting, will hurt their golf game.

That’s a myth. If you’re a golfer, you’re an athlete, so you should train as the pros do. They recognize that a stronger and more flexible body will help keep their scores down.

As an added attraction, strengthening exercises can fit nicely into a golfer’s busy schedule because they require very little equipment or time.

You can do the “super six” exercises shown here (figures 1 through 6) at home or while traveling to tone your body and your golf game.

All you need is about 4 to 6 feet of surgical tubing, which can be found at many physical therapy clinics, or an elastic exercise band, and about 10 minutes.

Just follow these guidelines:

• Stretch before and after you do strengthening exercises.
• Be cautious. Don’t try any exercise that might aggravate an injury or impairment.
• Perform each exercise in three sets of 10 repetitions each, at least three times a week. Gradually work up to three sets of 15 repetitions. Hold each exercise for 2 seconds. Once the exercises become easy, add resistance by shortening the tubing or doubling it over.
• Stretch the rubber tubing with a slow, steady motion, and release the tubing with a similar motion. Always keep tension in the tubing.
• Expect a little soreness, but pain should not linger. If you feel pain 2 hours after the exercise, discontinue the program and consult a doctor, physical therapist, or trainer.
• Anchor the tubing securely so it can handle the tension you put on it. Tying it to the knob of a closed door or to solid furniture works well.

Remember that although these exercises can help your game, they aren’t meant to be all-inclusive. For example, you can add partial sit-ups to strengthen your abdominal (stomach) muscles.

And, depending on your health, age, and medical history, your doctor may recommend additional exercises for your back, neck, or wrist muscles.

Also keep in mind that a good exercise program is most effective in improving your health and golf game when combined with regular stretching exercises, attention to good posture, and proper golfing technique.

A professional golf instructor can help you translate your stronger muscles into longer shots, improved endurance, and a lower score.

Reference

1. Chappuis JL, Johnson GD: The ’super six’ stretches for golfers. Phys Sportsmed 1995;23(4):87-88
2. Reprinted with permission; copyright 1996 Terry Boles APTA all rights reserved

Remember: This information is not intended as a substitute for medical treatment. Before starting an exercise program, consult with your physical therapist.

As a Physical Therapist, I see patients that are treated for a wide array of injuries, some of which are acquired while working.

These injuries range from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome to calf strains, headaches to radiating leg pain (Sciatica). Many of the injuries can be minimized if not prevented by remembering the simple A-B-C’s.

A – Awareness/Adjustments
B – Body Mechanics
C – Care/Conditioning

A – Awareness/Adjustments

Many injuries are due to repetitive movements and fatigue resulting from natural stresses and strains on the body. Posture that is maintained for too long are exposed to cumulative stresses and strains.

Poor posture can place these stresses and strains in areas of the body that are weak, resulting in pain and excessive wear. During a normal work day , 8 hours are demanded on one’s body.

Usually these 8 hours do not allow for movement out of prolonged positions. Being aware of your work environment can be 1/3rd of one’s solution. For example, a person who’s job responsibilities include computer inputting can prevent headaches and shoulder or neck pain by a few modifications.

Simply placing their keyboard so that elbow are even with one’s waist, wrists in neutral (neither bent down or up) and approximately one foot in front of one’s body eliminated excessive demands on your arms, shoulders, and neck.

Placing the monitor level with your eyes, so that one’s neck is not back or down eliminates excessive strain on the eyes and the neck. Another simple modification includes having a back support in one’s chair and having one’s feet in a position to allow your legs to be level with your hip eliminates excessive wear on the lowback.

Moving frequently to change the stresses from low to high. What does this mean? In general, posture should require minimal effort, but should be changed frequently to avoid muscular fatigue .

B – Body Mechanics

Once again, posture is a key in proper body mechanics. When going through back school, I instruct my patients to pretend that there is a board in the front and one in the back of their body. In other words, try to keep your back as straight as possible at all times.

This is done by remembering the basics of -head up, shoulders back, chest out, stomach and rear-end in and back straight!- Poor posture and incorrect body mechanics are two of the leading causes of back and neck pain and injury.

When lifting heavy objects – widen your feet, squat from your hips and not your waist. Do not twist especially while bending and tighten your stomach! One’s legs are a great deal stronger than one’s back.

Your abdominals (stomach) attaches to the front of your back, therefore when you pretend that you are about to be punched and still breath – you protect your back because of using your abdominals. Use common sense, use the stronger muscles – use your legs when lifting.

If lifting a light object – use the golfer’s technique: the back is straight, one leg is straight, one arm is used for balance, the opposite leg is extended (in back of you) and the object is picked up by the arm not balancing.

Try pushing objects with legs not pulling them towards you. When reaching for objects stay within your arms length without twisting. If it is further than arms length, get up!

C – Care/Conditioning

Eating, sleeping and exercise are vital when preventing injury and keeping a healthy body. Dietary habits are addressed every day.

The basics – fruits, vegetables, protein and low fat help keep the body happy and healthy. Sleep should be approximately 8 hours with good sleeping posture.

The neck should be neither bent or extended, it should be gently supported. The legs should also be supported with either one or two pillows. Patients reply: – I can’t sleep like that – I move around too much! – That is OK, the first hour is the most important.

The center of the spine (the nucleus) depends solely on absorption from surrounding structures – kind of like a sponge. It absorbs 80% of it’s nutrition in the first hour of sleep. When the legs are supported, it opens up the spinal segment to allow for maximal absorption.

For my patients with continued back pain or problems, I instruct them to lie down with their legs elevated for an extra 1/2 hour daily. This allows for an extra 40% of nutrition to the spine. Exercise should incorporate strengthening, endurance and flexibility. 30 minutes at least 4 times a week is recommended.

This can also be achieved at work by parking your car further away and walking,. taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and walking a message over to someone instead of calling.

Also remember to stand up – stretch – and walk around at least once an hour. You will be surprised how easy this is to do and how much better your body will feel when practicing these simple suggestions.

In summary, common sense is the best practice on the job. Remember the A-B-C’s and if you have a specific problem or injury, don’t suffer in silence. Your doctor and physical therapist are just a phone call away.

Women’s health is a specialty within the field of physical therapy that addresses conditions that occur across the lifespan and affect primarily women.

HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED ANY OF THESE HEALTH CHALLENGES?

• Pain or dysfunction associated with pregnancy or postpartum

Pregnancy, childbirth, and caring for a newborn cause physical changes that are unavoidable, but the pain or dysfunction associated with these changes can be treated.  With the changes that occur during pregnancy a women may develop: low back pain, tail bone pain, pubic bone pain, pressure or heaviness, hand or wrist numbness or swelling, sacroiliac pain, calf cramps, headaches, incontinence, or sacroiliac pain.

Physical therapy can provide manual therapy, therapeutic  exercises, supports, and education about special techniques and movement strategies to relieve symptoms and prevent further problems.

Pain is not a normal part of motherhood!

• Urinary  incontinence

The involuntary loss of urine is a social and a hygienic problem that can be the result of many things including pelvic floor muscle weakness and poor bladder habits.  Incontinence affects between 15-25 million Americans – 15% of adults.

Of the women between 30 and 59 years, 26% have problems.  Many women restrict fluids to avoid losing control of their bladder.  Greater than 50% of nursing home residents have incontinence.

Physical therapy treatment assists patients to restore pelvic floor muscle strength through exercise and biofeedback training to teach the correct way to perform Kegel exercises.  Treatment also provides education regarding normal function, stress management, and good toileting habits.

Incontinence is not an inevitable part of aging (or motherhood)!

• Pelvic pain or dysfunction

Pelvic pain encompasses a large variety of diagnoses (eg. chronic yeast infection, chronic urinary tract infection, irritable bowel syndrome, vestibulitis, vulvodynia, dyspareunia) and similarly is manifested with a large variety of symptoms (eg. burning, itching, rawness, aching, pelvic pressure, back pain, abdominal pain, tailbone pain, urinary urgency and frequency, pain with sexual intercourse, discomfort with tampon use).

Chronic pelvic pain can often be attributed to musculoskeletal dysfunction such as muscle spasm, joint dysfunction, abnormal postures, weakness, decreased flexibility or any combination of these.  If an imbalance occurs within any of the 80 muscles that attach to or extend from the pelvis, symptoms may arise and pain cycles may occur.

Everything in the body is connected and one area of dysfunction can create a different area of pain or dysfunction.

Physical therapy treatment can resolve many problems and can improve the others with manual techniques, therapeutic exercise, relaxation training with biofeedback, postural education, and movement strategies.

• Post surgical pain or loss of function

Muscle spasms, weakness, decreased flexibility and/or scar adhesions may result in discomfort and inefficient movement habits following medical procedures such as C-section, episiotomy, hysterectomy, breast surgery, or abdominal surgery.  Physical therapy treatment can help.

Ann Estensen,  MS, PT is a rehabilitation specialist focusing her practice on the special needs of women of all ages.

She will thoroughly evaluate all aspects of your condition including medical history, posture, muscle strength, flexibility, and habits, to create an individualized program that is designed to meet your specific needs and goals.

Ann is passionate about educating the community and guiding her patients along their personal path to wellness.

To schedule an appointment or for more information, please call Ann at Desert Springs Physical Therapy at 575-534-1187.

Falls in the elderly are the leading cause of fatal as well as non fatal injuries. Thirty percent of people over the age of 65 will fall each year.

The U.S. spends approximately $20.2 billion annually for the treatment of injuries to older people after falls.

The majority of the cost is for hip fracture care, which averages $35,000 per patient.

The most common types of injuries sustained after falls include: hip, spine, and wrist fractures as well as head trauma.

These types of injuries can result in serious disabilities and prolonged rehabilitation stays as well as possible death.

It is important to be aware of this situation, because falls can be prevented. Sixty percent of elderly falls occur in the home.

By safe proofing your or your loved ones house, you can help decrease this number.

Read these easy steps to fall proof a house.

Kitchen:

• Clean up spills as soon as they occur
• Do not store any objects above a hands reach
• Use a step stool with hand rails if needed
• Avoid climbing on counters to obtain objects

Living Room:

• Pick up any throw rugs…. Do not have them anywhere in the house
• Have ample space to walk in between furniture
• Keep all electrical cords out of the way

Bathroom:

• Keep a night light on at all times
• Install rails in the bathtub or shower
• Place a non skid mat in the shower or bathtub

Stairs:

• Keep all stairways free of clutter
• Install hand rails on both sides of the steps