Health Blog

Manual Therapy and Low Back Pain

Jul 26^th  2012 

Low back pain is very common and your doctor has probably told you there is nothing serious about your back pain. It would like likely get better without treatment after a certain period of time which can take 2 to 3 weeks. Usually, bed rest and medication can eliminate low back pain. One word of caution though, bed rest should not be more than 2 days because staying in bed for too long can worsen the pain.

Manual Therapy

Jul 17^th  2012 

Manual therapy is a common physical therapy treatment used by physiotherapists, osteopaths, massage therapists, and chiropractors when it comes to treating medical conditions of the musculoskeletal system. It covers a wide range of techniques that are applied to treat a variety of neuromusculoskeletal dysfunctions.

Cole Racich performing a manual knee mobilization

Manual therapy techniques are used for relieving pain and increasing mobility of the affected joints. These are categorized as stretching like massage and traction, and articulation with small-amplified joint movements.

Dealing with Fibromyalgia

Jul 17^th  2012 

Physical therapy has a variety of techniques that can help patients with fibromyalgia.  It is often a hands-on approach although most patients with this medical condition have tender points throughout the body.  Tender points or trigger points are specific places on a patient’s body that are acutely sensitive to touch.  There are eighteen tender points on the body running from the neck down to the knee.

In addressing fibromyalgia, a physical therapist can use passive and active treatment methods.

Knee Joint Replacement Therapy

Jul 17^th  2012 

There are three common sites for joint replacement procedures and these are hips, knees and shoulders.  When these important joints are damaged by illness or accidents, joint replacement is the best medical course of action to restore body functions.

Arthroplasty or replacement of the knee is a medical procedure wherein the joint cartilage of the knee is replaced with plastic or metal parts.  Early mobilization is vital in building up strength in the quadriceps muscles but it is also important to have a sufficient recovery period after the knee joint replacement surgery before one starts exercising.

Hip Pain and Physical Therapy

Jul 10^th  2012 

Contrary to popular belief, hip pain is not restricted to seniors. It affects individuals of all ages and in worse cases, can be incapacitating. The hip is one of the major weight and stress bearing joints in the body. When the function of the hip is impaired, it is difficult to have an active lifestyle and even affects daily activities. The hips support the entire torso and connect the torso to the lower extremities (the knee foot and ankle).

Fibromyalgia

Jul 4^th  2012 

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes musculoskeletal pain associated with lack of sleep, mood issues, memory loss and fatigue. Women are more prone to develop this condition. Patients who have this condition also tend to have anxiety, depression, tension headaches, TMJ disorders and irritable bowel syndrome.

Fibromyalgia is associated with tender points which hurt when pressed. These tender points are located at the back of the head, front sides of the neck, between shoulder blades, upper part of the chest, at the top of the shoulders, outer part of the elbows, inner knees, and upper part and sides of the hips.

Joint replacement

Jul 4^th  2012 

Joint replacement is an orthopedic surgery procedure in which a dysfunctional joint is replaces with prosthesis.  It is becoming a common treatment to severe joint conditions that cannot be improved by non-surgical remedies.

Joint replacement procedures can be classified as hip, knee, shoulder and ankle replacement surgeries.  Medical conditions that can lead to this medical condition are osteoarthritis, frozen or loose shoulder, shallow hip socket, rheumatoid arthritis and osteonecrosis.

Sports Injuries

Jun 29^th  2012 

Sports and exercises are great ways to stay fit and healthy but there are times when injuries can occur. One of the most common causes of sports injuries is from the wear and tear of repetitive motions of a certain activity or overuse. This is especially true for competitive athletes that normally use a certain group of muscles like runners.

Accidents can also cause sports injuries. A hard and sudden contact with another player or sports equipment can easily lead to injuries.  Sports injuries are common in rough sports like football even with the protective gear and equipment players wear.

Arthritis: Pain Relief and Management

Jun 29^th  2012 

Arthritis is common in adults especially the elderly of 65 years and more but it can also affect all ages as well. A simple definition of arthritis is the swelling or inflammation of the joints.

Usually, the first thing most arthritis sufferers try is to take over- the-counter medications to relieve the pain. Aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, and Aleve are some of these.  If this option doesn’t work, the pain may worsen to the point where surgery will be considered (joint repair or replacement).

Aquatic Therapy – Exercises for Rehabilitation

Jun 21^st  2012 

Aquatic therapy is an exercise program that is done in a pool of water. It can be beneficial to a variety of physical conditions and injuries. The patient can use the water’s physical properties in the healing process and in performing exercises. The water provides a safe and comfortable environment that allows patients to do their exercises more freely without the strain of gravity.

Aquatic therapy Exercises

• Leg raise.