New To PT? What To Expect...
Physical therapy first-timer? What exactly are you in for on your first physical therapy visit? First off, dress comfortably because you will be moving. By the end of your evaluation, you should have a clear idea of your assessment and physical therapy treatment goals. You and your PT will create an individualized treatment plan to help you with your recovery. What Is Physical Therapy? You probably have a general idea about what a physical therapy is and what a physical ther
Find The Right Therapist...Don't Worry About The Rest!
We can't emphasize this enough. Thee absolute most essential aspect of your recovery is finding the right physical therapist. Most people think of cost first. When you look at all your options, most people think that going In-Network is the best because it is the cheapest route generally. The problem with this thought process is that you will end up traveling to a physical therapy clinic only to be a number...you may see the actual Physical Therapist for 15 minutes and th
Ice or Heat? Plus! Make Your Own Ice or Hot Packs.
Our patients in our Physical Therapy Program often ask us whether they should use ice or heat for their particular conditions. When deciding on which of these thermal modalities to use, here are some rules and guidelines, which if followed, will reduce the risk of adverse effects or further injury and provide for the most effective way of using these therapies. Among the many different physiological effects that ice and heat have on a tissue, there are basically 2 that make t
Could Your Low Back Pain be SI Joint Related?
What in thee world is that crazy language? Did you say SI Joint? This is a little known joint in the small of your back that people may have never heard of but could be the root cause of your back pain...We've seen many people's lives turned upside down, not being able to enjoy the activities that they love because of their pain, but, not knowing how it can be helped. The SI joint is better known as the Sacroiliac Joint and you know it as the little hard bump on both sides
Should You Do Something Now About Your Balance?
Balance is our ability to maintain our center of mass over our base of support to keep us steady and upright. A properly functioning balance system allows us to see clearly while moving, know our orientation in respect to gravity, and helps to determine our speed and direction when we need to move. To break it down, we have 4 bodily systems that make up our balance: Vision, Proprioception or our awareness of our bodies positions, Inner ear or our vestibular system and feeling
Is Vertigo Ruining Your Life? Let's Fix That!
Physical Therapy is Ideal for Dizziness & Vertigo We’ve all had the sensation of being dizzy – as if you can’t focus, can’t see straight, can’t stand upright without swaying or falling. You may even experience “tunnel vision,” where your peripheral vision goes dark for a few seconds. Dizziness is common and can have many causes. Vertigo, however, is a little different. While dizziness is typically synonymous with “lightheadedness,” which creates the illusion of being unsteady
Back Pain or Sciatica? What's the Difference?
According to the American Physical Therapy Association, back pain is the most commonly reported pain across the nation, and one out of every four Americans has experienced back pain in the past three months. Back pain usually results from an injury or strain, however, it can sometimes be difficult to determine if the discomfort you are experiencing is general back pain or sciatica. Sciatica, a specific type of back pain caused by a nerve issue, is extremely common. Whether yo
