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Things to Know About Sports Medicine

Things to Know About Sports Medicine – Advanced Treatments

You can use these medicines to treat your injury caused by exercise, performance, and physical activity. No doubt, sports medicines are the fast-growing healthcare option. Suppose the health specialist is an expert in sports medicine. He can treat everyone, not only the athletes.

The experts in sports medicine can treat unprofessional athletes who want to get better results from exercise. They can also treat injured people who want to regain full functioning. Not only this, the experts can treat disabled people who want to increase mobility.

No matter which type of career you choose. It is always based on your interest, education, and environment to do work. Most careers ask you to have an advanced degree and certification.

Suppose you want to make your career in sports medicine. Then it is good to go for volunteering with the medical expert. This way, you have the opportunity to work with experts and learn more about a career in sports medicine.

What Exactly is Sports Medicine?

Don’t think that sports medicines are only used to treat athletic injuries. You can also use these medicines to treat your bone injury, even if you are active. For this, you can get help from the medical center’s expert.
Exactly is Sports Medicine

The main aim of using sports medicines is to treat people with injuries caused by sports, exercise, and other activities. This way, injured people can regain wellness, fitness, and athletic performance.

The background of sports medicine experts is many. These may be orthopedics, exercise physiology, and emergency medicine. The following are experts in Medicine sports teams:

  • Athletic coaches
  • Chiropractic medicine
  • Exercise physiologists
  • Occupational therapists
  • Orthopedic experts and surgeons
  • Physiatrists
  • Physical therapists
  • Sports medicine experts

All these experts can help you to recover from your injury. So you can regain your full performance and functioning.

5 Essential Things to Know About Sports Medicine

The following are some essential things you must know about sports medicines:

1. Sports medicine specialists must undergo extensive, additional training.

It is necessary for experts in sports medicine to be certified. Besides, they must have one or two years of experience and training in medicine. However, the American Board of Medical Specialties recognizes sports medicine. So, it is important for physicians to pass the national sports certification exam.

2. Sports medicine primarily focuses on non-surgical techniques.

Though orthopedic experts can treat sports injuries, almost 90% of injuries don’t require surgery. It is why sports medicines are famous for maximizing the benefits of non-surgical treatments. This way, patients can recover fastly. In case a patient needs surgery. Then sports medicine experts refer the patient to an orthopedic surgeon.

3. Sports medicine doesn’t only involve physicians.

The following are various specialties of sports medicines health care professionals:

  • Rehabilitation experts
  • Athletic coaches
  • Sports psychologists
  • Dietitians
  • Physical therapists

4. Sports medicine is about more than treating injuries.

Don’t think that sports medicines are only helpful to treat injuries. These can also help to refine performance and get many benefits. Athletes may get benefits from strength training, nutritional education, and exercise.

5. Sports medicine involves treating some of the most common athletic injuries.

The following are some injuries that athletes commonly face:

  • Knee injuries
  • Tennis and golfer’s elbow
  • Concussions
  • Torn rotator cuffs
  • Disarticulations
  • Sprains
  • Shin splints
  • Disruptions

Value and Demand of Sports Medicine

Almost everyone loves watching sports around the world. But no one knows how much time an injury takes to heal completely.

Among many other branches of medicine, sports medicine is on top. It can treat and prevent injuries caused by sports and exercise when you get injured while playing sports. Then you want to get back to your routine to play again. It is time when you can ask the sports medicine expert to treat your injury.
Value and Demand of Sports Medicine

Though teams in sports medicine consist of many experts, these may be head physicians, athletic trainers, and certified dietitians. No matter whether injuries are in the ankle, foot, jaw, hand, or wrist. The experts can help you to treat all these injuries.

Though physical activity is essential for the human body, some common injuries are ankle fractures and shoulder injuries. So, it is essential to consult a family medicine doctor or orthopedics.

List of Experts Involve in Sports Medicine Treatment

When you suffer from an injury during exercise, sports, and any other physical activity, then it is time when you need to consult a sports medicine healthcare professional.

About sports medicine specialists

The experts in sports medicine get special training to treat injured patients. So they can regain their mobility soon. Besides, experts can also treat and prevent injury in active people. Commonly, healthcare providers work with expert athletes. But they can also treat children and adults who are involved in the exercise. Not only this, but the provider also treats construction workers who demand much physical activity.

Though sports medicine is not a medical specialty, some healthcare providers have certifications for internal, emergency, and family medicine. Besides, these providers also get extra training.

Some experts are specialized in treating children and teenage injuries. The injuries at this age are different from those of adults. These experts are certified in family medicine with extra certification in sports medicine. Most healthcare providers are certified in surgery. The following experts can work with healthcare sports medicines providers to treat injuries:

Physical therapists.

A therapist can recover patients who suffer from injuries.

Certified athletic trainers.

The trainers can provide exercise plans to patients. This way, they can regain their strength and prevent more injuries.

Nutritionists.

These help the patients to gain or lose weight. The nutritionist provides a diet plan to improve physical functioning.

Why do Athletes Prefer to Consult with Sports Medicine Experts?

Though sports injuries are more common in daily life, especially in America and other countries, a branch of medicine called sports medicine got famous in the early years. It helps the doctor to know the many injuries athletes face. These may be torn muscles, bone fractures, or damage to other body parts.
Athletes Prefer to Consult with Sports Medicine Experts

Sports medicine experts not only help to treat athletes. They can also work as family doctors to treat adults, children, and teens.

Most sports medicine experts are orthopedic surgeons. They help you in improving athletic performance. Besides, they prevent and treat injuries. The best thing about orthopedic doctors is that they are not helpful to athletes. They are also helpful for common people suffering from injuries and issues.

How Do Sports Injuries Occur?

Though sports injuries are acute or chronic, it is necessary to know the nature of the injury. The cause of acute injuries is a force of impact. An example of this injury is a strained back and pulled muscles. These issues become the cause of sudden pain.

While the chronic injury builds over time. Though the practice is essential. But if you practice or implement the same exercise. It can wear or tear out your body parts.

How Are Sports Injuries Treated?

The treatment methods for sports injuries are many. So, it is up to you which method best suits you. The main and famous method, among all others, is the RICE technique. It includes rest, ice, compression, and elevation. In case this technique is not useful. Then it is time to call an orthopedic doctor to treat your issue.

A therapist can tackle all types of sports injuries. He can use cell steam therapy, thermotherapy, ultrasound, electrostimulation, and others. To use each therapy, the main source is heat, cooling, and high-frequency sound. This way, the technique can heal the body faster.

The main thing to know is that sports medicine is the main field of treating medical issues. It can help athletes and common people to regain functioning.

Sports medicine physicians’ duties to expect

No matter what the type of facility in which experts are working. But all these experts can help patients in the following:

  • The experts can diagnose and treat issues in the musculoskeletal system.
  • They can order lab tests, techniques, and results.
  • Perform a physical examination and check the history of the athlete.
  • Examine injured patients to make a treatment plan.
  • Check the recovery of injured athletes.
  • Prescribe medicines to treat athletic injuries.
  • Have a strong connection with other experts such as trainers, surgeons, and coaches.
  • Inject and diagnose ultrasound.
  • Educate athletes regarding exercise, activities, injury prevention, and more.

What services does sports medicine offer?

You can explore many services of sports medicine. These may range from physical therapy to prosthetics. The experts in sports medicine can treat any medical situation. They are expert enough to treat sports injuries, joint pain, and heart problems.
services does sports medicine offer

If you exercise daily, it is important for you to must know about sports medicine. The following are some common services that sports medicine experts offer:

  • The experts provide therapy to regain the strength and functionality of patients.
  • Recover patients from the stage of injury to everyday life.
  • Manage the pain of patients caused by sports injuries.
  • They help athletes to stay healthy by allowing them to follow the right diet plan.
  • They are involved in psychosocial counseling to help athletes deal with stress.

What does a sports medicine physical therapist do?

A medicine therapist help in the prevention and recovery of injuries of athletes. The therapist helps in therapy, rehabilitation, pain management, and counseling. They can prescribe prosthetics that help athletes to gain mobility.

What are the benefits of seeing a sports medicine specialist?

You can avail many benefits after getting help from a sports medicine expert. The expert help in the prevention and detection of injury. Besides, he can help you with fast recovery and improve performance.

When should I see a sports medicine specialist?

When you have an injury and issue with your health and fitness, then it is time when you need to call the sports medicine experts.

In case you suffer from injury. You should stop exercising and consult a medical expert. It is good to have an X-ray or MRI to know the severity of the injury. Based on the severity of the injury, you need to rest, compress and elevate the area. You can also take medicines or go for physical therapy. To improve your functioning, you should ask the medicines expert for help.

What should I expect at my first appointment?

Your first appointment may be a physical examination, consultation, and treatment plan. Maybe your doctor has asked you to do some exercise at home. It is compulsory for you to follow the doctor’s guidelines. Never try to treat the injury yourself.

Final Verdict:

You have many options to prevent sports, exercise, and physical activity injuries. These may include warming up before and after exercise. Besides, you can use the right equipment and stretch yourself regularly.

Moreover, you need to drink a lot of water and rest when you get tired. In case you suffer from an injury. It is time to stop the exercise and go for medical help.

Though some sports injuries are not much severe, at the same time, some are serious and can take much time to recover from if you don’t focus on them. So, it is essential to get help from a medical expert to treat your injury. You can recover your injury by taking complete rest and treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the main goal of sports medicine?
The main goal of using sports medicines is to help people to recover sport related injuries. These medicines can also be helpful in treating injuries from exercise and physical activity. So patients can get fitness, wellness, and athletic performance.

What is sports medicine, and why is it important?
Sports medicine is a medical thing that helps to treat and prevent injuries from sports and exercise.

What degree is best for sports medicine?
Suppose you are interested in making a career in sports medicine. Then it is good to take part in programs like kinesiology and science.

Recover Post-Prostatectomy with Physical Therapy

How to Recover Post-Prostatectomy with Physical Therapy | What to Expect?

Prostate removal (prostatectomy) is a major surgery that can take many weeks to recover. The type of your operation (open or non-invasive) and your overall wellness will determine how quickly you recover. Incontinence following prostate removal is one of the most common problems, but it can considerably negatively impact one’s quality of life.

What should I expect during the assessment?

A complete medical history of the patients will be taken, as well as specialized genital examinations. A urinalysis will be performed as well. Urodynamic will be used to assess bladder functions and cystoscopy to assess the urinary tract.

What to Expect After a Prostatectomy?
Expect After a Prostatectomy

1. In the hospital ward:

Nurses assist patients in getting up and moving as soon as possible following surgery to avoid blood clots and other problems. Many people want to have their catheter removed at home. If this is the case, first seek advice from your doctor.

After your operation site heals, your catheters will be removed one week later. It usually occurs seven to ten days following surgery. It is a simple procedure that can be completed at your doctor’s office. They will go through what you should know, but whether or not you need any additional treatment. It is also when your doctor will call to inform you of the pathology results.

2. One month following surgery:

The majority of people take three to four weeks off work. You may be able to return to work faster if you work from home. For at least one month after surgery, doctors advise avoiding intense activities or heavy lifting.

Your life should begin to return to normal one month after surgery. Many males have the following adverse effects:

  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Urinary incontinence

However, whether they are harming your quality of life, speak with your doctor about treatment options. It takes time to recover following surgery.

What are the options for post-prostatectomy incontinence treatment?

You and your UCLA urologist will think about the best treatment option for you.

Based on the intensity of the patient’s symptomatic discomfort, pharmacological and surgical treatment options are possible.

  • Exercises with Kegel: And, contrary to popular belief, this tightness can cause bladder problems by preventing the muscles from tensing and relaxing as they should. Many men, on the other hand, report hyperactive pelvic floors or muscle tightness after surgery.
  • Non-surgical Treatment Options: Kegel exercises will be used to help patients improve their pelvic floor. Physical therapy for the pelvic floor can help patients target these muscles for the best results. Biofeedback and pelvic floor physical therapy are two non-surgical treatment options. This treatment may help patients with extremely mild incontinence.
  • Urethral bulking Products: Several companies offer treatments for patients with very light incontinence. Kegel exercises did not improve symptoms or for whom the patient would wish to gain additional improvement. Throughout a scope inserted into the urethra, thickening agents are delivered into the urethra. Complete is a naturally occurring material made of calcium hydroxyapatites, which are found in bone.

Methods for Surgical Treatment:

Male slings are a surgery performed for continence in men who have mild to moderate symptoms (the consumption of 2 to 3 medicated pads). This operation has the advantage of being able to be performed with small openings and a short recovery time. The urethra is compressed with a surgical mesh implanted in the groin area. The catheter is left in place overnight and removed the next day.
Methods for Surgical Treatment

The pump is inserted into the scrotum, and the patient can operate it and urinate by pressing down on it. A synthetic urinary sphincter is a surgically implanted device with many parts. A cuff, a pump, and a pressure-regulating balloon make up the device. When the pump is turned on, the pressure-regulating balloon distributes water. The cuff is wrapped around the urethra to produce circumferential pressure.

6 Tips for a Successful Post-Prostatectomy Recovery:

1. Stay Ahead of the Curve:

It may take longer for your medicine to function if you delay until your pain becomes more severe. Prostatectomy can be painful and unpleasant. If your pain intensifies or does not improve after treatment, contact your doctor. For pain treatment, your doctor can prescribe medicine.

2. You’re Recovery Plan:

Patience and maintaining your eye on the ball cancer-free—are essential for a successful recovery. Prostate removal (prostatectomy) is an effective treatment that can take many weeks to recover. Here are some suggestions for keeping your recovery from a prostatectomy as simple as possible. The severity of your operation (open or minimally invasive) and your general health will determine how quickly you recover.

3. Pay attention to your doctor’s advice:

Carefully follow your doctor’s post-surgery recommendations. Between sessions, inform your doctor of any problems you have, and make follow-up sessions with your doctor.

Follow all research’s exercise, dietary, and lifestyle limitations; take your medications as directed; and properly clean and care for your wounds and urethral opening.

4. Don’t be put off by sexual side effects:

Some men have already faced these difficulties, and much is being learned as a result.

Sexual dysfunction is another unfavorable side effect of prostatectomy. Nerves can recover, but only after a long period. The nerves that control erections are incredibly close to the prostate. Surgeons frequently have to remove at least many nerves in addition to avoiding all traces of tumor. Medications and technology can help you sustain an erection long enough for penetration, even if it takes 4 to 24 months or longer.

5. Get ready for more therapy:

You may require hormone therapy or radiotherapy to destroy all evidence of cancer and to prevent it from returning, based on the success. The prostate and surrounding structures that the doctor removes will be examined by a pathologist for symptoms of the tumor. After surgery, patients can begin hormone therapy, especially estrogen replacement therapy, sooner.

Your doctor may recommend radiation therapy 3 to 6 months following surgery if you are at high risk of progression.

6. Medication and food:

Some days before the surgery, your surgeon will ask you to stop using drugs that raise your risk of blood clots. Any prescriptions or over-the-counter medications, or substances you’re taking should be disclosed to your doctor. It is especially essential if you’re taking blood thinners like clopidogrel (Plavix), warfarin (Coumadin), as well as non-prescription pain medicines like aspirin, naproxen sodium ( Aleve, others), or ibuprofen ( Advil, Motrin IB, and others).

The experts guide you not to eat or drink anything else after the surgery. The expert doctor will suggest you take a break and do not eat anything. You only need to take a glass of water before the surgery to avoid the addition of dehydration. Tell your doctor about every allergy or medication response you’ve had.

Before surgery, you may be provided a kit and instructions for doing an enema on yourself because it cleans your intestines.

Final Verdict:

Prostatectomy surgery can be performed in a variety of ways, depending on the disease. Surgical treatment with robotic aid and traditional open surgery are both options.

Most women experience this issue after their second or third delivery. Even some women face this issue after 40.

However, as per WHO’s research, specific issues are linked with this problem, like tumor or cysts formations. So it is better not to avoid this issue and talk with the expert surgeon to recover it in the initial stages.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

How do you recover your muscles following prostate surgery?You will be capable of holding these muscles for longer as they become stronger. Relax for 3 to 5 seconds, or as much as the muscles are strained, then repeat.

It’s better to do the male Kegel exercise after you’ve cleared your bladder. Tighten the muscles mentioned above for 3 to 5 seconds, or as long as you can recover the issue.

How long would it take for the inside of the prostate to heal following surgery?However, the abdominal incision takes three to four weeks to heal totally, so avoid challenging activity during that period. Following surgery, you may experience swelling in the scrotum and penis, which will subside with time.

What is the best technique to do after having your prostate removed?The most crucial workouts for recovering from a prostatectomy are pelvic floor exercises. It is to aids in the rapid resolution of urine continence and the restoration of normal sexual function.

After prostate surgery, how should I sit?We prefer to sit semi-recumbent (In a comfortable chair with a footstool, in a reclining chair, or on a sofa). Walking is not restricted after the catheter is removed. Do not sit up straight on a firm chair for more than 1 hour after your first four weeks at home.

 

Treating Herniated Disk

How Physical Therapists Assist in Treating Herniated Disk?

Recovery from a herniated disc usually includes extensive physical therapy. In addition to providing acute pain relief, its techniques also show you how to prepare your body to prevent additional damage.

There are numerous physical therapy methods. Deep tissue massage, heat and cold therapy, electrical stimulation (such as TENS), and hydrotherapy are examples of active treatments that help your body relax.

Typically, passive therapies provided by Lawton physical therapy experts will be used to start your physical therapy program. However, after your body has had time to recover. You will start active therapies that will strengthen your system and stop more discomfort. Together, you and the expert physical therapist at Lawton physical therapy experts will create a strategy that works best for you!

What exactly is the Herniated Disk Issue?

A herniated disc, also known as a bulged, slipping, or ruptured disc, happens when a portion of the disc nucleus pushes through a tear or rupture in the nucleus and into the spinal canal. Herniated discs are typically in the early stages of degenerative.
Herniated Disk Issue

A spinal disc has a harder, rubbery surface over a soft, jelly-like inner (nucleus) (annulus). A disk herniation, also known as a slipped disc or a ruptured disc, happens when a portion of the nucleus slips through such a tear in the annulus. Although a herniated disc can develop anywhere along the spine, it most frequently does so in the lower back. Therefore, a herniated disc may cause discomfort, numbness, or weakening in an arm or leg, dependent on where it is located.

Many people with herniated discs don’t have any symptoms. For those who do experience symptoms, they typically get better with time. Usually, the issue can be resolved without surgery.

Explore the Symptoms and Signs of Herniated Disk:

Your herniated disk’s position and direction, as well as the quantity of pressure placed on adjacent nerves, will all affect the kind and location of your problems. There may be no pain at all from a herniated disc. Or, it may result in any of the symptoms listed below:

  • Pain in arms, legs, low back, or neck.
  • Difficulty in rotating or extending the neck.
  • Neck, shoulders, arms, hands, hips, legs, or feet burning or numbness.
  • Arms or legs are weak.
  • Walking with a limp
  • Increased discomfort when sitting, retching, coughing, or sneezing.
  • Unable to stand up straight; “fixed” in a posture, such as stooping over or leaning to one side.
  • Having difficulties getting out of a chair.
  • The inability to endure pain in a fixed space, including sitting or standing.
  • Morning pain that gets worse.

The gelatin-like core of the disc (NP) that might become drying and less flexible in people over 50 is less inclined to leak or herniate. However, this degradation might result in additional painful illnesses such as progressive disc disease and joint degeneration. However, your physiotherapist will consult with other medical specialists to establish the proper diagnosis for you.

Causes of Acute Herniated Disk:

Most commonly, progressive aging-related wear and tear are known as disk degeneration leading to disk herniation. The disk grows less elastic and is much more prone to fracturing or rupturing, just a small strain or twisting as people age.

Most people have issues identifying the reason for their damaged disks. Twisting and turning when lifting can often result in a herniated disc, as this can use the lower back to raise heavy objects rather than the leg and thighs. Therefore, rarely is the reason a traumatic experience like a fall or a blow towards the back.

How does it Feel to Have Herniated Disk?

The neck, back, arms, or legs may experience discomfort, tightness, numbness, paralysis, or tingling as a result of herniated disks. A nearby nerve may be pushed on by a bulging or leaking disc, which could cause pain or muscle weakness.

There could not be any discomfort or disability if the expanding or leaking disc does not press against a nerve. However, a herniated disc can result in back or neck pain. Other reasons may also be at play. Other such conditions can be examined for and ruled out by your physical therapist.

Can Physical Therapist Help in Treating Herniated Disk?
Physical Therapist Help in Treating Herniated Disk
To start the healing process, your physical therapist will work with you to:

1. Reduce pain and other symptoms:

In order to start the healing process, your physical therapist will assist you in realizing how to avoid or alter the actions that resulted in the injury. To manage and treat your symptoms and pain, your physical therapist may utilize a variety of techniques and tools.

2. Improve posture:

Suppose your physical therapist finds that poor posture has contributed to your herniated disk. However, the therapist will teach you how to improve your posture so that pressure is reduced in the injured area, and healing can begin and progress as rapidly as possible.

3. Improve motion:

Your physical therapist will select specific exercises and therapies to aid in regaining normal joint mobility. These could start with “passive” movements the physical therapist does for you to move your spine and advance to “active” exercises and stretching that you complete on your own. Therefore, to improve healing and pain treatment, you can carry out these motions at home and work.

4. Improve flexibility:

Your physical therapist will detect any tight muscles, start stretching them with you, and then teach you how to and when to extend in your own way at home.

5. Improve strength:

If your physical therapist finds any weak or damaged muscles, experts will choose the finest exercises to gradually regain your muscle strength and flexibility. You will learn these workouts from them as well. “Core strengthening” is typically used to regain the strength and coordination of the muscles. However, they support your back, hips, belly, and pelvic region in order to treat strained disks in the neck and back.

6.     Improve endurance:

It’s critical to recover muscular endurance following an injury. Your physical therapist will create an exercise program for you to follow in order to recover and regain the strength you had before your injury.

7. Learn a home program:

Your physical therapist will demonstrate to you at-home exercising, stretching, and pain-relieving exercises. If you perform the exercises as directed by your physical therapist, they will be specific to your requirements and will improve your recovery.

8. Return to activities:

Your physical therapist at Lawton physical therapy experts will consult with you about your activity levels and utilize them to establish a treatment plan for your work, sport, and home responsibilities. Your treatment plan will assist you in achieving your objectives in the safest, quickest.

Your physical therapist may advise you on good “body mechanics”—the right ways to carry out tasks and move heavy objects—to prevent additional injury to your spine after a spine injury like a back injury.

After your discomfort has subsided, it will be crucial for you to maintain your new exercise and posture routines to maintain you’re back strong and pain-free.

Physical Therapy Options to Treat Herniated Disk:

With you, your physical therapist will create a treatment plan to speed your recovery. This plan will include exercises and therapies you may perform at home. You can get back to your regular routine and activities with the aid of physical therapy.

The length of time it takes for the problem to recover varies. However, when a correct posture, pain-reduction, stretching, and exercising programmer is followed, results can be seen in 2 to 8 weeks or less.

Passive Physical Therapy Treatment for Herniated Disks:

Deep Tissue Massage:

There are more than 100 different forms of massage, but if you have a herniated disc. The deep tissue massage is the best choice since it applies a lot of pressure to release deep muscular tension and contractions. However, the form restricts muscle action in the damaged area.

Hot and Cold Therapy:

To achieve the best results, your physical therapist may alternate between hot and cold treatments, each of which has its own set of advantages.

Your physical therapist may apply heat to improve blood flow to the affected area. Blood brings more oxygen and nutrients to the area, assisting in recovery. Therefore, blood also washes out waste materials produced by muscle spasms.

Conversely, cold therapy:

This decreases pain, inflammation, and muscular spasms. Your physical therapist might apply an ice pack to the affected area; perform an ice treatment on you. However, apply a fluoromethane spray to reduce swelling tissues.

Hydrotherapy:

Hydrotherapy uses water, as the title indicates. Hydrotherapy can be given passively by simply relaxing in a hot shower or whirlpool bath. Hydrotherapy helps muscles to relax and gently alleviate pain.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation:

Your muscles are stimulated by an electrical current when using a TENS machine. Although it seems painful, it isn’t really that severe. Key places all along the nerve system receive a small electrical current from electrodes taped to your skin. Therefore, TENS lowers muscle spasms and is usually thought to cause the body’s normal painkillers, endorphins, to be released.

Traction:

Traction works to reduce the spine’s negative effects from gravity. The intention is to decrease disc herniation by carefully pushing apart the bones. The comparison is similar to how a flat tire would “disappear” whenever you put a jack under. Therefore, the vehicle releases the pressure on it. Either the cervical or lumbar spines can be used to execute it.

Active Physical Therapy Treatment for Herniated Disks:

Active treatments help with joint movement, mobility, posture, power, and core strength. To get the best effects, a workout program might also be advised. This will improve your general health in addition to reducing chronic pain. Together, you and your physical therapist will create a programmer based on your unique diagnosis and medical history.

Core stability:

Many people are not aware of how essential a strong core is to maintaining spinal health. Your back muscles support your spines with the assistance of your core (abdominal) muscles. Your spinal muscles are put under extra strain when your core muscles are weak. Therefore, you could learn core stabilizing exercises from your medical professional to improve your back.

Flexibility:

You’ll be better prepared for aerobic and strength activities by learning effective stretching and mobility techniques. However, by preventing stiffness, the ability makes it easier for your body to move.

Hydrotherapy:

In contrast to passive hydrotherapy, this involves nothing more than relaxing in a warm bath or bath. They are effective hydrotherapy and may include water aerobics to help condition your muscles without extra stress.

Muscle strengthening:

Your spine is well supported by strong muscles, which also help you manage pain. To assist you in preventing future discomfort, your physical therapist will teach you how to condition and improve your back.

You could learn self-care principles to properly appreciate how to treat your difficulties. However, the ultimate objective is for you to acquire the knowledge necessary to live pain-free.

Final Verdict:

After formal physical therapy is over, it’s crucial that people learn how to exercise and maintain their backs. You won’t benefit from physical therapy’s long-term effects if you do not even put the lessons you acquired during treatment into practice. Therefore, you can reduce the pain from your herniated disc by having to take care of your back on your own or get assistance from Lawton physical therapy experts!

FAQs:

Can a herniated disc be fixed with physical therapy?
Most herniated disks can be treated with physical therapy and do not need to be surgically repaired. In order to help persons with back injuries restore normal movement, lessen pain, and resume their regular activities, physical therapists create personalized therapy plans.

What sort of physical treatment is beneficial for a herniated disc?
PT may involve exercises, hydrotherapy, hot/cold treatments, and deep tissue massages. Recovery from a herniated disc frequently involves extensive physical therapy. In addition to providing immediate pain relief, its techniques also show you how to prepare your body to prevent further damage.

What exercises are allowed if you have a herniated disc?
Squats, cycling, extended hamstring stretches, deadlifts, high-impact exercises, leg presses, and straight leg raises are a few examples of exercises.

Is a herniated disc amenable to stretching?
Stretching exercises are one of the greatest therapies for herniated disc symptoms. However, back muscles can become more flexible and assist in stabilizing the disc herniation location by being gently stretched.

Benefits from Post-Operative Rehabilitation

How Can You Get Benefits from Post-Operative Rehabilitation?

The post-surgical rehabilitation time is an important part of the recovery process after an operating procedure. What is the definition of post-operative restoration? The essential aspect determines whether or not orthopedics’ will be successful.

Achieving key rehabilitation milestones and goals is critical to achieving the best potential outcome. At the same time, certain simple operations may not necessitate formal physical therapy. The majority of orthopedic surgeries will necessitate some post-operative treatment. In-patient or out-patient physical treatment with a qualified physical therapist is the most usual venue.

What is a Post-Operative Rehabilitation Therapy?

Physical therapy is usually recommended after orthopedics surgery, such as hip, knee, elbow, wrist, hand, head, foot, ankle, and neck surgeries, to help the patient recover quickly. Physical therapy can begin as soon as a few hours or a few days after surgery. Therefore, there may be a time of immobility in some situations.
Post-Operative Rehabilitation Therapy

Physical therapy determines a patient’s capacity to regain motion and strength and eventually return to everyday activities. Without proper retraining, the system will not recover normal movement. Therapists are specially educated to restore range of motion and power without compensating while preventing re-injury. However, the therapist can also give the special patient instructions to help them recover faster.

Goals will be defined after a thorough assessment by a physical therapist to reduce the negative effects of surgery. They include such pain and swelling while also restoring full movement, mobility, and function.

The therapist of Oklahoma Physical Therapy and the patient will work to set functional goals for normal routine activities of daily living and avoid returning the injury. However, the therapist will next create an exercise regimen that is personalized to the patient’s personal needs and abilities, and work.

What is the Goal of This Therapy?

Therapy is usually divided into stages. The first occurs soon after the operation, when the affected body portion may be immobilized while the pain and discomfort reduce. Then, increasingly difficult exercises are performed to regain range of motion, flexibility, and strength. Therefore, the ultimate goal is to get the patient back to their pre-injury level of activity.
Goal of This Therapy rehabilitation

This is a program created by your physiotherapist to assist you before surgery such that you can have a positive post-surgical outcome.

Pre-habilitation programs have the following objectives:

  • Mentally preparing for therapy.
  • Reduce inflammation and pain
  • Restore range of motion
  • Enhance muscle control of the damaged joint
  • Normalizing body movement before the procedure
  • Gain a basic knowledge of the activities you’ll do right after surgery to improve your overall well-being and performance.

Stages of Post-Operative Rehabilitation:

Various activities can cause injuries, regardless of how active you are or how little activity you do. Sprains, strains, fracturing, breakdowns, and displacements can result from something as simple as not correctly moving a product to not warming up before the first foot race. Even injuries may necessitate surgery to be properly repaired. You sustain an injury that necessitates surgery. However, the recovery process will vary according to your damage type.
Stages of Post-Operative Rehabilitation

The length of time it takes you to recover following surgery is determined by the severity and placement of the damage. Regardless, the recovery process can be divided into the following stages:

1. Surgery recovery:

Healing following the surgery would be the first stage toward resuming regular function. Any procedure may necessitate an incision in the treated area. Thus pain and inflammatory drugs may be required. Ice is a typical method for reducing swelling. Braces, slings, crutches, or casts may be required to keep a limb or a region in a fixed posture during recovery. A physical therapist will help you in this process as well!

2. Rebuilding motion:

It is essential to mobilize an injury to return following normal surgery. It’s critical to know when to begin physical therapy to prevent straining and exercising too early, only slowing down the recovery process. Physical therapy is required to aid in the development of flexibility by extending and rotating the damaged area to the best of your ability.

Soft tissue and joint mobilization training have been used to enhance the range of motion and minimize pain. However, different exercises are done in therapy and at home to ensure that your injury heals properly and does not restrict your mobility.

3. Rebuilding strength:

Strengthening muscles through physical therapy is also essential for preventing muscle weakness and restricting mobility, durability, and strength in a damaged site. Within the same month to six days after having muscle pain is common after an injury.

Muscle weakness will be less likely, and regular functionality will be restored more quickly. You follow a routine that focuses on increasing strength and circulatory endurance. Cycling, pool workouts, and other focused exercises can help strengthen an injured area without increasing it. However, physical treatment will be required for a variety of injuries.

4. Restoring normal function:

When you’ve gained greater strength and flexibility, the next stage in resuming your normal routine is to regain your strength and balance. Exercises during this stage are designed to improve speed and power. They require more specific and complex training based on your current physical activity. It would help if you were close to returning to regular exercise and conditioning with normal mobility, muscle, and balance.

Because everyone recovers from injuries at a different pace, your treatment will be tailored to your specific requirements. Returning to high-intensity physical exercise may take longer than normal function, and maturity can affect recovery times. Schedule a meeting with Oklahoma Physical Therapy immediately or make another appointment immediately whether you’ve recently undergone surgeries and need expert physical therapy to go and get back in shape.

How Long Does Post-Operative Rehabilitation Process Take?

For each of the four queries listed above, there is an average estimate of how long they will take. It’s important to realize that each patient’s time will be different. It depends on so many factors that it is difficult to predict how long it will take one month, three months, six months, nine months, or even 12 months.
Post-Operative Rehabilitation Process Take

This is why it is critical to comprehend the particular qualifications for any traffic signal. The average wait time for the first traffic light is 1 or 2 months. However, the wait time for the second traffic signal might be 3 or 4 months. Therefore, the third traffic signal will take 6-9 months to arrive, while the last will take a year.

For each of the four questions listed above, there is an average estimate of how long they will take. It’s important to realize that each patient’s time will be different. It depends on so many factors that are predicting how long it will take one month, three months, six months, nine months, or even 12 months is difficult.

This is why it is critical to comprehend the particular qualifications for any traffic signal. The average wait time for the first traffic light is 1 or 2 months, although the wait time for the second traffic signal might be 3 or 4 months. The third traffic signal will take 6-9 months to arrive, while the last one will take a year.

Who Can Help Out the Patient in Post-Operative Rehabilitation?

Various professionals assist you with multiple aspects of your rehabilitation. A physiatrist is one person who could be on your squad. They are rehabilitation specialists. They create a personalized plan and monitor the program to ensure that it is running well.

1. Physical Therapist:

A physical therapist at Oklahoma Physical Therapy helps people with their physical problems. Therefore, they will teach you techniques to improve your strength and flexibility when moving your arm, leg, or another body part that has been operated on.

2. Occupational Therapists:

An occupational therapist is a person who specializes in helping people with their daily. They assist you in regaining the skills you require for various routine activities. They may advise you to prepare meals, dress, shower or washing, and then use the toilet.

They’ll also explain to you how and when to use tools like a washing stick and elastic shoelaces to make self-care more convenient. Occupational therapists will come to your residence to ensure your safety and security and will be easy for you to manage.

3. Dietitian:

They’ll assist you in creating a nutritious meal plan. If your doctors have advised you to limit salt, sugar, or particular meals after surgery, a psychologist can assist you in making various ideas.

4. Speech-language therapist:

They aid in the development of abilities such as speaking, digesting, and memorization. Following brain surgery, treatment approaches can be beneficial.

5. Nurses:

And you’re in a rehabilitation facility for another few weeks or months; they’ll look after you. However, they may also visit you at home to monitor your progress and assist you in readjusting to home and family.

6. Psychologist or therapist:

It’s normal for people or depressed following surgery. A health professional can assist you in managing your problems and treating any despair you may be experiencing.

An operation can take months to recover from, so be patient. Your general health and the type of treatment you performed to determine a lot. Follow your rehab team’s advice and work closely with them. Your efforts will be rewarded.

How Can Physical Therapist Benefit You in Post-Operative Rehabilitation?
Physical Therapist Benefit You in Post-Operative Rehabilitation

Physical therapy is an important part of a successful post-surgery recovery. It entails the treatment, healing, and prevention of injuries. Physical therapy can help patients recover from orthopedic operations and enhance strength and flexibility while also addressing pain without drugs. Physical therapy can help people who are recuperating from non-orthopedic (internal) disorders restore strength and endurance.

It’s critical to follow your doctor’s directions whether you’re working one-on-one with a medical professional or completing exercises on your own. Therefore, physical activity can help you heal faster in a variety of ways.

Reducing Inflammation:

The circulatory system is responsible for transporting blood to the whole body. The purpose of surgery is to increase the circulation of blood to the injured location. Fluid can be moved out of the tissues by encouraging mild mobility of the limbs. Swelling is minimized as a result.

Increasing Range of Motion:

Muscles contract as a result of surgery. As a result, one of the most significant goals of physical treatment is to improve the range of motion so that the bones, muscles, and soft tissues concerned can function better. To enhance range of motion, physical therapists use the following techniques:

1. Massage:

Massage helps to transfer blood and nutrients to the affected area. They are allowing the soft tissue to heal. It also aids in the removal of scar tissue.

2. Stretching:

Stretching not only relieves pain but also improves joint flexibility. Scar tissue is a typical part of the healing process after surgery. Therefore, stretching ensures that it does not obstruct your recovery.

Workouts to Increase Weight and Improve Symptoms: Post-operative exercises help you gain muscles and improve function. For your rehabilitation, a physical therapist will also provide you with specific exercise suggestions.

Pain Management:

Techniques for increasing range of motion might also help with pain relief. Various other types of physical therapy can be used to manage pain.

1. Electrical stimulation:

A low-voltage electrical current passes through the skin to promote muscular contractions and control short-term pain. control. Neural stimulation can also help with muscle pain and enhance strength.

2. Ultrasound machine:

Ultrasound machines use positive or negative self-sound waves to penetrate the muscles, resulting in deep tissue and muscle warmth. Ultrasound treatments stimulate tissue relaxation, which helps to stop muscle pain and enhance circulation, which assists in healing and inflammatory reduction.

Short wave reduces pain, inflammation, and inflammation by using short wave wireless radio treatment. Therefore, short wave something to also enhance the flow of blood to the damaged joint and enhances the range of motion.

Role of Exercise and Stretching in Post-Operative Rehabilitation:

Strengthening and muscle-building exercises are important aspects of both pre-and post-operative physical therapy. Exercise may be tough or even painful at first. But you will notice the benefits as your capacity and strength improve. Exercise is especially beneficial for shoulder, back, and neck issues.
Role of Exercise and Stretching in Post-Operative Rehabilitation

Many physical therapists think that focusing on core strength and confidence is beneficial (the midsection of your body). The core serves as the body’s basis, and surgery patients with a weak core are more likely to experience secondary complications. Overusing or putting too much tension on the brain can also cause major problems. Therefore, patients can avoid this by improving their core, back, and pelvis using core strengthening exercises.

Physical therapy is a crucial aspect of preparation for surgery or recovery from it. If your doctor advises it, you can expect to reap a variety of health advantages. Therefore, to understand more about the benefits of physical treatment and its role in your restoration, contact Oklahoma Physical Therapy !

Final Verdict:

Physical therapy can assist you in healing faster after any surgery, whether it’s a joint replacement, major surgery, or a cancer treatment process. You’ll certainly begin while being in the hospital. A therapist will assist you in getting out of bed and resuming your exercise routine. However, you’ll also undertake some more exercises to prepare for your return home.

You might need to stay in a rehab clinic after you’ve been released from the hospital to complete your rehabilitation. You could stay there for a few weeks or months, depending on your performed type of surgery. Alternatively, your doctor may recommend that you go to an “out-patient” facility, where you live at home!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

What exactly is post-operative physical therapy?
A post-operative (“after-surgery”) rehabilitation program is required for recovering joint mobility, strength, and flexibility, whether you have surgical treatment, tendon surgery, and any other significant operation. Therefore, many types of orthopedic surgery have a quicker recovery time.

What role does a physical therapist play in the recovery process?Physical therapists use ultrasound, electrotherapy, and hands-on approaches to improve blood flow to injured tissues. However, this enhances tissue function and greatly lowers pain levels in people.

What are the benefits of post-operative exercise?
Exercise and activity are essential for recovering lost functionality and physical function and reducing the risk of re-injury from damaged tissues. It’s difficult to stress the importance of carefully regulated exercise conditioning programmed following surgery. However, to put it another way, it’s a major thing.

After surgical, when should you begin physical therapy?
As a result, it is important to complete physical rehabilitation following surgery. You might expect discomfort, discomfort, and inflammation after surgery. On the other hand, physical treatment will also be required to begin the day of or sometimes your surgeries.

What happens if you don’t follow through with your post-surgery rehab?
Reduced blood flow to the surgery site might harm healing. If muscles are not used for an extended time, they can weaken and atrophy. The knees might be stressed if appropriate movement is not acquired or re-learned.

Recover the Issue of Low Back Pain with Physical Therapy

How Can You Recover the Issue of Low Back Pain with Physical Therapy?

Usually, patients who experience low back problems are referred for physical therapy treatment. This physical therapy treatment includes a four-week nonsurgical treatment plan before considering other treatments like surgery for back pain.

The main purpose of physical therapy is to reduce pain, increase and improve muscle functionality and educate patients on how they can prevent and reduce future back problems.

What to Know About Low Back Pain

Low back pain is a common problem in which people experience continuous pain in the low back area and feel difficulty performing daily activities. Most people experience “non-specific low back pain,” the most common kind of back pain. It can be defined as “The pain in the low back region which has no specific pathology.”

Kinds of Low Back Pain:

Low back pain is divided into three subtypes depending on the period of back pain:

  • Acute low back pain usually proceeds for less than six weeks and is the most regular type of back pain.
  • Sub-acute low back pain proceeds between 6-12 weeks. The patient feels continuous acute pain in the lower back region.
  • Chronic low back pain is an episode of low back pain in which pain lasts for 12 or more weeks.

Generally, doctors consider the pain which lasts for three or more months as chronic low back pain. About more than 80% of health care expenses are associated with chronic pain. Almost one-third of patients with chronic back pain have been suffering from moderate continuous back pain for about one year. According to records, more than 7 million people in the US are restricted from performing daily activities as a result of chronic back pain.

What Can Cause the Issues of Low Back Pain:
Cause the Issues of Low Back Pain

Low Back Pain is perhaps the most notable reason individuals go to the subject matter expert or make bungles on their work. The expert can identify with a test or an assessment by the master of muscular health. Conditions regularly associated with back torment issues include:

1. Muscle or Tendon Strain:

Repeated, genuinely difficult work or an unexpected messed-up advancement can strain back muscles and spinal ligaments. In the event that you’re in a helpless condition, the predictable strain on your back can cause troublesome muscle fits.

2. Expanding or Cracked Bones:

Broken bones go about as cushions between the bones (vertebrae) in your spine. The sensitive material inside a circle can lump or break and push on a nerve. Regardless, you can have a distending or broken plate without back torture. Bone expanding is as often as possible discovered when you have spine X-radiates for some other clarification.

3. Osteoarthritis:

It can impact the lower back. From time to time, joint irritation in the spine. Likewise, the issue can incite a narrowing of the space around the spinal rope, a condition called spinal stenosis. Your spine’s vertebrae can encourage troublesome breaks if your bones become penetrable and frail.

4. Twisting:

The bend of the spine can consolidate scoliosis or kyphosis. The disfigurement may be identified with lower back torture if it prompts the breakdown of the plates, viewpoint joints, sacroiliac joints, or stenosis.

5. Injury:

Extraordinary breaks or divisions of the spine can provoke torture. Lower back torture that makes after a physical issue, similar to a motor vehicle incident or a fall, should be restoratively surveyed.

6. Pressure Crack:

A crack that happens in the round and hollow vertebra, where the bone basically collapses on itself, can cause unexpected torment. The type of crack is generally normal because of frail bones, for example, from osteoporosis, and is more normal in more established individuals.

Common Treatments and Surgeries for Low Back Injuries Patients:
Treatments and Surgeries for Low Back Injuries Patients

However, normally most sportsmen and athletes who experience low back pain or injury manage their pain at home with different exercises and home treatment. But if you experience any severe injury, then you should never delay visiting a doctor or physical therapist.

Your doctor can request some tests like X-ray, CT scan, MRI report, etc., to check the intensity of your injury and select a suitable treatment for you. Most doctors refer back injury patients to physical therapy before moving towards advanced treatment and surgery options.

A physical therapist can help you to manage your back injury with the help of suitable exercises and treatments to strengthen your back muscles, improve their function and treat pain by relieving pressure on your spine. The other physical therapy treatments for low back pain or injury are:

  • Dry-Needling Treatment Plan
  • Hands-on Manual Physical Therapy
  • Orthopedic Physical Treatment Plan

Surgical Option for Treating Low Back Pain:
Surgical Option for Treating Low Back Pain

If a person is suffering from a severe back injury like spondylolysis or HNP, and other treatments and techniques don’t work to reduce the pain, he may need back surgery.

  • Spondylolysis Surgery usually includes the fusion of the spine. In this surgery, the doctors “weld” the cracked or fractured vertebrae into a single bone to reduce the chances of any future injury.
  • Surgery for herniated discs from HNP is done to reduce pressure on the spine and spinal nerves. This surgery includes various techniques, but the primary goal of all techniques is to create more disc space.

Surgery can cause muscle stiffness and other back problems, so it is important to follow all instructions of your surgeon and exercise according to your physical therapy treatment plan to be able to recover quickly.

When to Visit a Physical Therapist:
When to Visit a Physical Therapist

If you don’t take signs and symptoms of low back pain seriously, it can become a serious problem. If you experience any symptoms of low back pain and feel difficulty performing daily activities and tasks, then you should visit your doctor or physical therapist. Some symptoms need immediate medication; in case they are not treated, they can lead to a serious problem. Some common symptoms are the following:

  • Reduced Muscular Control: if you experience a quick loss of muscular control in the hip, thigh, calf, toes, or shin, then you should immediately visit your doctor or physical therapist. Loss of muscle control can restrict your mobility, like you feel difficulty raising your leg, walking upstairs, etc.
  • Reduce Bladder Control or Bowel Function: if you experience loss of bowel or bladder control, it can be a sign of compression on your spine or back nerve. The primary sign of it is you feel difficulty urinating. If all these symptoms happen with low back pain, then it is a sign that you should not delay visiting your doctor.
  • Medical History of Cancer: If you experience the onset of low back pain, it is good to see your physical therapist, especially when you’ve any cancer history. Although it is quite rare, your doctor will order some tests to diagnose any metastatic problem and start treatment.
  • Any Recent Trauma History: In some cases, the onset of back pain results from any recent trauma or vehicle falls incident. If you’ve been through any recent trauma and are suffering from acute back pain, it is good to visit your doctor to diagnose any fracture or other back problem and start its treatment before it becomes worse.

Physical Therapy Movements and Exercises for Low Back Pain Treatment:
Physical Therapy Movements and Exercises for Low Back Pain

Passive treatment plans work for low back pain treatment, but in addition to all these treatments, physical therapy also plays an important role in improving spine structure and movement. Generally, the following physical therapy treatment techniques are used for treating lower back pain problems:

Stretching Exercise:

Physical therapists include stretching exercises in treatment plans to improve the patient’s muscle strength. Hamstring stretching should be done once or twice daily at the same time to reduce pain and improve muscle strength.

Light Aerobic Exercises:

Aerobic exercises are the best treatment for long-term pain management. This may include bicycling, swimming, walking or water therapy, etc. these muscle-strengthening exercises must be performed for 30-40 minutes three to four days a week.

Heat and Ice Therapy Treatment:

Heat or ice massage can help to relieve muscle pain and inflammation faster than other treatments. It is the most common type of pain reliever therapy that is used to treat low back pain. Heat or ice should be applied for 10-20 minutes after every 2 hours. They are found to be more effective to use in 2-3 when the pain starts.

Final Verdict:

Low back pain is a common problem that affects about 80-90% of US adults, and they face difficulty in daily routine activities. According to statistics, about 80% of people spend billions of dollars on low back pain treatment and surgeries every year.
Physical therapy treatment can help to reduce and eliminate the causes and symptoms of low back pain. It is good to visit a physical therapy clinic before moving towards other advanced treatment options like surgery for back pain. Your physical therapist can suggest some exercise and movements reduce your pain, improve your muscle strength and function, and prevent future back pain issues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. What is the quick and safe way to treat lower back pain?
Apply heat or ice to that area for instant relief from lower back pain. You can use pain relievers for fast pain recovery. It is good to sleep in the curled-up position with a pillow between your legs to support to your back muscles and spinal cord.

2. Can a patient completely recover from low back pain?
Normally, low back pain recovers over time. It can take a few days to 3- 4 months to recover completely according to the symptoms and intensity of back pain. According to their symptoms and pain intensity, most people with acute or mild back pain can recover within a few days, weeks, or months.

3. Can weak muscles also cause low back pain?
Weak muscles around your back and abdomen can encourage a forward-leaning posture due to the pressure on the spine increasing. It can cause lower back pain and reduce the strength to perform spinal movements. It can be treated with the help of physical therapy by practicing abdominal muscle strengthening exercises.

Reliable Trigger Point Dry Needling

What to Expect from Reliable Trigger Point Dry Needling – Expert Guide

Dry needling is a treatment performed by physical and sports injury therapists. Dry needling practitioners say the needle will assist you in releasing the knot. It also gives you relief from any muscle pain or spasms. The needles will stick to your skin for a short period. The period of the procedure depends on the practitioner.

Some healthcare professionals, such as physical and massage therapists, get some training in dry needling. Nowadays, dry needling practitioners don’t need thorough training: no regulatory agency controls or licenses or supervision is needed for this process.

Because there’s no clear credentialing board and no way to determine if someone’s training is legal and satisfactory, if you want dry needling, find someone with postgraduate healthcare education or go for an authentic company such as Lawton Physical Therapy.

What is Dry Needling and Its Trigger Point?
Dry Needling and Its Trigger Point

Dry needling treats muscle tissue, and its goal is to reduce pain and inactive trigger points moreover restore function. It is a method that most physical therapists use (where allowed by state law) to treat pain and movement impairments. The process of dry needling uses a “dry” needle, one without medication or injection, inserted through the skin into areas of the muscle.

Dry needling is also known as the famous trigger point dry needling and intramuscular manual therapy. Dry needling is not the same as acupuncture. Acupuncture is a healthcare technique based on traditional Chinese medicine and performed by acupuncturists. At the same time, dry needling is a part of modern Western medicine principles and is supported by research. Most people don’t know what the trigger point of their skeletal is. Well! It’s a major point where our body muscles move, known as the body trigger point.

Basics to Know About Trigger Point Dry Needling:
Know About Trigger Point Dry Needling

When the muscle wants to relax and then doesn’t relax, it develops tight knots. In addition to creating a hard, painful knot, the ongoing muscle contraction also pinches your nerves and blood vessels.

So, what causes a trigger point? These tight knots occur because of:

  • Muscle overuse
  • Lifting heavy weights or objects
  • Lack of sleep
  • Direct injury
  • Poor posture
  • Tense muscles
  • Psychological stress

However, knotted muscles normally occur while you’re using your muscles, but lack of exercise can be one of the reasons for prolonged sitting or time spent on bed rest. When you don’t exercise, your muscles get weak and become more susceptible to developing a trigger point.

Benefits of Trigger Point Dry Needling:
Benefits of Trigger Point Dry Needling

Inserting an acupuncture-like needle into the body trigger point relaxes the muscles, decreases banding or tightness, increases blood flow, diminishes inflammation, and triggers a healing response.

This therapy also improves nerve communication and activates the release of your body’s natural pain relievers, and if you want to have these benefits, then concern Lawton Physical Therapy.

The activities stimulated by dry needling result in four benefits:

1. Get fast pain relief

Dry needling is used for a wide variety of musculoskeletal issues. Most people associate trigger points with knotted muscles in their shoulder, upper back, and neck. But the same problem can occur in any part of your body. It is associated with many conditions, from low back and neck pain to joint pain and overuse injuries.

Your treatment plan will rely on the severity and number of trigger points. Many patients experience a quick reduction in local and widespread pain after taking one dry needling session. Others may need several sessions to get optimum pain relief.

As the knot relaxes and blood flow improves, your pain reduces. Better circulation means that painful, acidic wastes get carried away while your muscles get the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal.

2. Regain your range of motion

Tight, painful muscles will stop you from moving. You may experience severely limited mobility if you have multiple trigger points. And your muscles weaken and lose mass when you are not active.

Having a complete and fid range of motion is important for everyone and essential for athletes. When dry needling releases tension and knots, it rebuilds the blood and oxygen flow. This allows you to get a full range of motion. Improving overall function can decrease or remove discomfort, allowing you to concentrate on your performance rather than pain.

Physical therapy also retrains your muscles, and which helps prevent future trigger points. Therefore, we often combine dry needling with a physical therapy program to rest e your strength and completely rebuild your range of motion.

3. Fasten the Recovery Process:  

Physical therapy is the recommended treatment during your recovery. Though, adding dry needling to physical therapy advances the process.

Injuries are popular among athletes and those with an active, healthy lifestyle. Some problems and injuries can take months to recover. Moving your body is a reliable way to grow up healing and speed up your health recovery, whether you are suffering from an injury or have had surgery. Compared to the other therapies, dry needling may speed up the healing process and help you get back to full strength faster.

4. Ungraded the Conditions of Chronic Pain:

Dry needling treats muscular pain by inserting of very thin and fine (filiform) stainless steel needles into well-defined points within the affected muscle. Dry needling is well known for easing two chronic pain conditions, myofascial pain syndrome and Fibromyalgia.

Dry needling therapy is a sort of physical therapy that contemporary practitioners of Western medicine develop. The treatment contains precise intramuscular stimulation. It can be very effective in promoting healing, relieving pain, and improving range of motion, all without drugs or medication.

Widespread pain and tenderness in your muscles occur in Fibromyalgia. The pain affects the way your legs or arms move, which in turn leads to trigger points. Patients often experience significant improvement in their overall pain who have Fibromyalgia and get dry needling.

When trigger points are pointed in the fascia, a sheet of connective tissue that is located and supports all your muscles, blood nerves, blood vessels, and organs, Myofascial pain syndrome occurs. For this chronic pain condition, dry needling and physical therapy are among the best treatments.

 Is Dry Needling Effective Than the Acupuncture?

Dry Needling Effective Than the Acupuncture

Dry needling therapy, however, looks similar to the prehistoric Chinese practice of acupuncture, is quite different in its fundamental

They developed Acupuncture in China as long as 8,000 years ago. Their technique is based on the belief that life generates invisible energy, called “chi,” that moves through a living body along specific pa known as “meridians.”

On the other hand, dry needling relies upon contemporary studies of modern Western anatomy. It includes the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems of the entire human body.

Why Choose Trigger Point Dry Needling?
Why Choose Trigger Point Dry Needling

Physical therapists who will begin to try dry needling supplements by obtaining specific postgraduate education and training can get faster results. Expert physical therapists are in anatomy and treatment of the body. When you contact a physical therapist for dry needling treatment, ask about their particular experience and education.

Prelit binary research supports that at the sites at which nerve impulses are transmitted to muscles, dry needling upgrades pain control, reduces muscle tension, and normalizes dysfunctions of the motor endplates. Physical therapists use dry needling to release or inactivate trigger points from your body and relieve pain or improve your range of motion. It can speed up the patient’s recovery plan with active rehabilitation.

How Can We Differentiate the Trigger Point Dry Needling and Acupuncture?
Differentiate the Trigger Point Dry Needling and Acupuncture

You may think that trigger point dry needling and acupuncture are the same as trigger point dry needling uses the same as acupuncture; that is the only similarity between the two therapies.

Acupuncture is based on the idea of balancing and restoring the proper flow of energy throughout the body. During an acupuncture session, needles are inserted into points along meridian lines that represent the body’s organs, based on ancient Chinese medicine. However, trigger point dry needling has a musculoskeletal approach focused on placing needles in muscles and triggers to be tight or in pain to relieve that pain and tension. This is very different from acupuncture, which is a complete Asian system of healing focusing on meridians, energy, and chi.

Final Verdict:

Dry needling is a reliable treatment designed to reduce muscular pain. Its popularity is growing day by day. During dry needling, a practitioner inserts several filiform needles into your skin. Filiform needles are fine, short stainless steel needles that don’t inject fluid into the body. That’s why it is called dry needling.

After the first session, your physical past will look for improvements, including increased range of motion and decreased feelings of pain or tightness.   You can apply ice and heat to these areas if you feel sore or experience bruising after dry needling therapy.

If you’re experiencing pain from trigger points and other muscular strain, considering dry needs a long treatment, always go for an authentic company like Lawton Physical Therapy, as dry needling from a licensed physical therapist can bring you much-needed relief.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

What type of needle is used in dry needling treatment?
Thin, fine (filiform) stainless steel needles allow the dry needling treatment. The needle allows the therapist to target tissues that are not manually palpable. They don’t inject fluid into the body. That’s why it is called dry needling.

What is the difference between massage and dry needling treatment?
Massage has long been a powerful tool in treating a range of musculoskeletal impairments. A newly popular procedure, dry needling, has emerged as a potentially faster solution for muscle stiffness, particularly injuries.

What type of pain does dry needling treat?
Dry needling is employed to increase the range of motion that may be reduced due to muscle tightness or scar tissue. You may go for the dry needling treatment if you have the following pain:

  • Joint problems
  • Disk problems
  • Migraine and tension-type headaches
  • Jaw and mouth problems
  • Repetitive motion disorders
  • Spinal problems
  • Pelvic pain
  • Night cramps

Who should not go for the dry needling treatment?
Any patient considering dry needling therapy should consult their doctor first. People who shouldn’t go for dry needling treatment are:

  • Pregnant women.
  • People who are unable to understand this treatment.
  • People who are afraid of needles.
Guide on Multiple sclerosis

Can Physical Therapy Work on Body Balance Issue? Expert Guide on Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune (a condition in which the body’s natural system attacks normal body cells), which results in chronic inflammation, neuronal loss, gliosis, and demyelination. This disease can be relapsing-remitting or continuous. Primarily, it is a disease that occurs due to malfunctioning of the Central Nervous System (CNS).

Lesions in this disease do not develop at a time. They develop at different places and times in CNS. Due to this, multiple sclerosis is also referred to as a “disseminated in time and space” disease. The medical treatment of this disease is different for its different stages ranging from rapidly developing to chronic disease.

Ways to Diagnose Multiple Sclerosis (MS):
Diagnose Multiple Sclerosis

Doctors use a diagnostic technique known as a differential diagnosis in which they start with a complete check-up and examine the medical history of the patient. The doctor may order the following tests for diagnosis of multiple sclerosis:

  • Blood Tests: Doctors recommend blood tests to rule out another disease that has similar symptoms to multiple sclerosis. Specific tests for checking biomarkers that occur due to MS are under development, which can help in diagnosis in the future.
  • Spinal Tapping: In this test, a small sample of cerebrospinal fluid is taken from your spin to check any irregularities in antibodies that may result from MS. Spinal tapping also aids in eliminating other diseases and infections with similar symptoms to MS.
  • Evoked Potential Test: In this test, electric signals of the nervous system as a result of stimuli are recorded. It may be visual or electrical stimuli. During this test, small electrical electrodes are applied to your arms or legs nerves or see a visual moving pattern on the screen. This test shows how quickly information travels through your nerves.
  • MRI: MRI can help to locate the exact location of lesions in your brain or spinal cord. Doctors may give you an injection of intravenous material to highlight active lesion areas in your brain or spinal cord.

In many people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, the diagnosis is simple and based on the signs and symptoms of diseases that are consistent and permanent. It can be easily diagnosed with brain imaging scans such as MRI.

Treatment Techniques for Treating Signs and Symptoms of MS:
Treatment Techniques for Treating Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis can vary in every MS patient. Doctors use different treatment methods to treat MS. Some of them are the following:

  • Physical Therapy: Physical therapy can help to reduce and manage problems that arise as a result of MS. Your physical therapist can help you to learn specific muscle strengthening exercises that will help you to perform everyday activities in a good way. They also teach the use of mobility aid devices like a wheelchair to support your body.
  • Muscle Relaxants: Multiple sclerosis patients may feel pain, spasm, and muscle stiffness in the legs. Doctors can prescribe muscle relaxants like tizanidine (Zanaflex), baclofen (Lioresal, Gablofen), and cyclobenzaprine to reduce pain and stiffness in muscles. Another best treatment for spasticity is Onabotulinumtoxina.
  • Medication for Fatigue reduction: many medicines like Amantadine (Gocovri, Osmolex), modafinil (Provigil), and methylphenidate (Ritalin) can help MS patients to reduce fatigue that is caused by MS. Doctors may recommend some drugs that reduce depression.
  • Medications for Improving Walk Speed: MS patients may feel difficulty in walking due to weak leg muscles. Doctors may recommend drugs like Dalfampridine (Ampyra) that help to slightly increase walk speed. Patients with kidney problems or Seizure history should avoid it.
  • Other Medications and Treatment: Many other medications and treatments can be recommended to treat insomnia, depression, pain, sexual dysfunction, and bladder and bowel control problems that can occur as a result of multiple sclerosis.

Why Choose Physical Therapy to Treat Multiple Sclerosis?
Physical Therapy to Treat Multiple Sclerosis

Physical therapy can help MS patients to reduce pain symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Your physical therapists can teach and suggest specific exercises to improve the strength of your muscles, body balance, coordination, and gait.

Physical therapy treatment also involves stretches to improve and maintain mobility and reduce leg muscle spasms associated with MS. It also includes training on how patients can use mobility devices like a cane, or wheelchair to walk easily.

Physical therapy can also be helpful in treating symptoms in the early stages of MS. It can aid you to:

  • Improve strength and Stamina
  • Retain your strength and abilities after the disease
  • Improve relapse
  • Prevent symptoms to get worse
  • Cope with body changes

A conversation with your physical therapist can help you to understand what changes can happen in your body as the disease will make progresses. Getting help from a physical therapist can help you to understand these changes and teach you how you can maintain and improve a healthy lifestyle.

Role of Physical Therapy at Different Messages:
Physical Therapy at Different Messages

Physical therapy treatment can be useful for all types of MS and can help to treat signs and symptoms at all stages.

At Diagnosis:

When you visit your doctor for a diagnosis of MS, it is important to see a physical therapist. A physical therapist will examine all signs and symptoms of your body and test your strength and ability. Your doctor will discuss your physical limitations and understand which exercise treatment plan is best suitable for you.

After the initial diagnosis, you don’t need to visit a physical therapist again. But it is better to seek help from a physical therapist if you are at the advanced aggressive and progressive stage of multiple sclerosis.

During Relapse:

During the relapse period, the signs and symptoms of MS are worse and more severe. At this stage, the patient feels limited to do everyday tasks and activities like

  • Working
  • Walking
  • Bathing
  • Cooking

A physical therapist can help you to know about the changes that are happening in your body and how you can reduce these changes. After the relapse period, the physical therapist can help you to restore and regain your physical abilities to perform daily activities.

At Progressive Multiple Sclerosis:

At primary progressive multiple sclerosis, patients may not experience relapse. If a person is diagnosed with this type of MS, the physical therapist can help. A physical therapist can teach you how you can compensate for the changes in your body that will happen at this stage. They can also help you to learn to use mobility aid devices to help you walk.

At Advanced Multiple Sclerosis:

Patients that are at the advanced stage of multiple sclerosis may have severe signs and symptoms of MS. Usually, at this stage, the patient may not be able to move without the help of someone. They are at high risk of other diseases like arthritis and osteoporosis. Physical therapy treatment can help you to use mobility aid devices properly, strengthen the upper body and sit properly.

Lifestyle Changes and Home Remedies to Improve MS:
Lifestyle Changes and Home Remedies to Improve MS

Changes in lifestyle and some home remedies can help to improve signs and symptoms of MS. The MS patients should try to:

  • Eat a balanced diet: Healthy diet routine can help to improve your health and reduce signs and symptoms of MS. Some research shows that Vitamin D has potential benefits for MS patients.
  • Exercise: Patients who have mild to moderate MS can regularly exercise to improve their strength, muscle spasm, balance, and coordination. They can do walking, running, stretching, bicycling, etc. patients also can do swimming or other water exercises.
  • Cool Down: In some people, the symptoms of MS get worse when their body temperature increases. Avoiding heat and the use of cooling devices like vests can help to maintain temperature.
  • Relieve Stress: In many cases, it is observed that stress and depression can worsen the signs and symptoms of MS. Stress-relieving techniques like yoga, massage, meditation, and tai chi can help to reduce stress.
  • Take Proper Sleep and Rest: Make sure you are taking enough possible sleep. If you have any sleep disorder, you should visit the doctor to treat it so that you can get proper sleep and rest.

Final Verdict:

Each patient suffering from MS has different signs and symptoms. But one thing that is common in all patients is that it affects the movement of at least one body part. Patients might experience pain, balance problems, bladder and bowel problems, fatigue, dizziness, and difficulty in walking.

Physical therapy can help to retain stability and treat problems associated with MS. Select the best suitable and expert physical therapist.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Can the private therapist help in the recovery of Multiple sclerosis?If there is no known solution for the problem, it tends to be effectively controlled with clinical administration and restoration. Physical specialists assist patients with MS recovery and keep up with strength, adaptability, and general wellness, and to live dynamic, useful lives.

How might non-intrusive treatment help in the improvement of personal satisfaction related to multiple sclerosis?Those with MS who were all genuinely dynamic announced lower potential, weakness, and torment. It brings the chances of higher social gathering and self-adequacy for overseeing MS, lower misery, exhaustion, and torment, and higher social assistance for hidden MS.

What do neurological physical specialists do?Neurological Physical Therapy envelope specific thorough assessment and treatment of people. They provide ways at the time when MS development issues become higher, and there is a higher chance of infection or injury of the sensory system.

What is the best and recommended prognosis for multiple sclerosis?However, the symptoms might emerge from serious MS, like chest or bladder diseases or gulping challenges. The normal future for a patient with MS is around 5 to 10 years below the norm.

Obesity with Physical Therapies

Can Patients Recover the Issue of Obesity with Physical Therapies?

Nowadays, recent research has shown that the overall loss of life from being overweight is more noteworthy than initially suspected. An article in the LA Times says

“Around 18.2% of unexpected life losses in the United States somewhere in the range of 1986 and 2006 were related to excess weight”.

The entire research is conducted by a group of sociologists driven by a Columbia University demographer. Grown-ups and youngsters can be named typical, overweight, or fat by ascertaining their weight record (BMI) in view of their tallness and weight. For instance, grown-ups are viewed as overweight if their BMI is 23 to 29 and large if their BMI is 25 to 30 or higher.

Obesity or overweight might be set off by hereditary, natural, conduct, social, physiological, and social variables. Some practical ways of life and surplus caloric admission are viewed as basically liable for the overall expansion in weight during the previous 20 years.

What is Exactly the Meaning of Obesity?

Overweight or obesity is a condition including the capacity of overweight muscle to fat ratio. It is achieved by an irregularity between caloric admission or a high caloric intake. Sometimes obesity can be a cause of high-calorie use throughout a drawn-out timeframe.
Meaning of Obesity

Also, around 100 additional calories each day will prompt a 4.5 kg weight to acquire every year. In all cases, it can prompt weight issues after some time. Obesity can influence the body from numerous points of view. It can prompt other medical issues, which include:

  • Heart diseases such as cardiovascular
  • Diabetes
  • Blood Stroke
  • Cancer in Breast, Endometrial, Liver, and Colon
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Breathing issues include Sleeping apnea and Asthma
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Depression or stress

Those people who are overweight can experience issues while taking part in everyday exercises. It happens because of the expanded body weight they convey, their deficiency of functional preparation, and their development constraints.

Statistics of Obesity from Past Years:

In modern society and the new culture, being overweight is considered an unhealthy factor. Particularly in the previous 20 years, it indicates the high consumption of foods in their daily life. The primary cause of obesity is the use of fatty food varieties with poor routines.

That is the reason doctors guide people to focus on having healthy meals at the right time. In today’s era, huge segments of food with “supersized” inexpensive food alternatives and promoting food and eating are considered an approach to commend unhealthy events. It may likewise contribute to several health issues, which can show with the passage of time.

The development of healthy ways of life or fitness workouts additionally contributes incredibly to becoming fit and healthy. Some people invest more energy playing computer games as opposed to playing sports outside, working at work area occupations as opposed to performing difficult work, and riding in vehicles as opposed to sitting lonely. These people look more fit and healthy than those who prefer to rest and sit excessively. Further, we will discuss how you can overcome the issue of being overweight with long-term treatments.

How to check if Physical Therapy Assists in the Recovery from Obesity?
Physical Therapy Assists in the Recovery from Obesity

A bundle of people considers getting physical therapy at the time when you are harmed or have a condition that requires treatment to improve. While that is without a doubt the fundamental motivation behind active recuperation, there are a few alternate manners by which it can help you.

As well as attempting to prevent osteoporosis and back or neck torment, non-intrusive treatment is a demonstrated weight of the board tools. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 68% of grown-ups beyond 20 years old are either overweight or fat in the United States. It is an amazing solution that shows how significant it is for us to resolve the issue of obesity on an immediate level.

So, whether you are being disturbed because of being overweight and wanting to remain fit, then you must follow advanced physical therapy treatment. Also, non-intrusive treatment might assist you with bettering your weight and starting a fit lifestyle. The physical therapist and specialists have the experience and preparation important to assist you with standing up and progressing effectively.

In all honesty, having effective and advanced physical therapy after a physical issue is entirely urgent for quick recuperation. Also, the physical therapist is somebody who is a specialist in the recovery of every health issue. They also develop portability in a person’s life along with the sort of difficulty they have needed to manage. With regards to weight reduction the board, some experienced physical therapists will work with you to prevent the issues of being overweight.

Why Talking with the Physical Therapist is Essential?

The Department of Health and Human Services demonstrates that all grown-ups ought to do somewhere around 2 hours and 30 minutes every seven days. They are all motivated to follow the proper workout plan of physical activity. Kids and teenagers ought to do somewhere around an hour of active work day by day.

The physical advisors have broad information on a wide scope of ailments. It will allow them to more readily inspect those people, provide them with solutions and propose a protected active work program. Some physical fitness work programs are intended to assist with building up a deep-rooted propensity for physical work. That is the reason people make it a highlight solution to remain in the perfect health pattern.

How Can a Physical Therapist Help?
Physical Therapist Help

A physical therapist can assist those people who are overweight and want to become more dynamic and fit. They assist them by helping to practice in problem-free and fun ways. The right exercise is vital in light of the fact that it helps consume calories, dispose of fat, safeguard muscle tissue, and ensure your joints. At the point when you start a great exercise schedule, it likewise assists you with settling on better decisions about your eating routine.

High-impact exercise and strength preparation will probably be remembered for your program, as the two of them help in weight reduction and weight control.

A physical therapist is known to provide protected and viable active work programs for people. Also, they focus on working on healthy workout plans and capacities considering the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s active work suggestions for kids and grown-ups.

A physical therapist can likewise help people address any hidden causes behind their unfortunate practices. They are prepared to overcome and hide any boundaries to create healthy lifestyle propensities and routine singular objectives. A Physical expert therapist will help you to treat overweight issues in different phases including:

1. Reduce Body Pain: 

Your Physical therapist will plan a customized practice program. It will assist you with performing exercises with minimal measure of pain and suffering. Simply get up and start rolling because it can assist with recovering your pain issues.

2. Work on Cardiovascular Wellness:

Your Physical therapist will plan a “heart-sound” oxygen-consuming activity program for you to hoist your body’s digestion and consume more calories. A physical therapist helps individuals, incorporating grown-ups and kids with handicaps. In this way, you can discover fun, high-impact exercises they can perform at their agreeable level.

3. Further, Develop Strength:

Your Physical therapist will show you activities to address any muscle shortcoming you might have or to further develop your general muscle strength. Developing health in muscles can assist with consuming calories. The activity will make exercises simpler and alleviate joint pain. Delicate and low-sway types of weight preparation performed with practice groups can assist with keeping away from joint pressure.

4. Develop Muscle Development:

Your Physical therapist will pick explicit exercises and medicines. The activity will assist you in making typical development of hardened joints. These might start with the active movements that the physical therapist performs for you.

5. Develop Adaptability and Stance:

Your Physical therapist will decide whether any of your significant muscles are tight and show you how to delicately extend them. Your Physical therapist will likewise survey your stance and show you activities to work on your capacity to keep up with the appropriate stance. A Great stance can make hard exercises simpler and less excruciating, and even work on relaxing.

6. Increment in Movement Levels:

Your Physical therapist will talk about your movement objectives with you. They will plan your activity program to address your requirements and objectives. Your Physical therapist will help you arrive at those objectives in the secure, quickest, and best way.

Surgical Option for Treating Obesity:
Surgical Option for Treating Obesity

Physical therapist additionally assumes a part before and then afterwards gastric detour or bariatric medical procedure. Working with analysts, enrolled dietitians, and doctors, Physical therapists assess strong gastric detour or bariatric medical procedure patients. They set them up for the technique and guide their recovery.

At Washington University School of Medicine, the department expert of DPT Tamara Bullis plans healthy workout programs for gastric detour patients. The better shape people are in, the better they endure a medical procedure. After the medical procedure, Bullis ensures patients can work autonomously before release.

As an educator in the school’s non-intrusive treatment program, Bullis likewise leads toward the healthy workout plans and meetings of Worksite Opportunities for Wellness. They provide a healthy physical therapy program that brings practice classes and sustenance training to work environments.

Why is Weight Management Essential for Obesity Recovery?
Management Essential for Obesity Recovery

Physiotherapists have a task to carry out in the counteraction and the range of obesity levels. Overweight terms can prompt limitations in development. Also, it can influence further commitment to healthy physical work.

Exercise and development is the primary source of the extent of physiotherapy practice. Alongside a comprehensive and critical thinking approach, physiotherapists have progressed information and abilities in:

  • Anatomical, physiological, and psychosocial instruments of wellbeing and sickness
  • Bodyweight assessment and ways
  • Body behaviour change
  • Biomechanics
  • Exercise solution and helpful exercise
  • Weight management of long term conditions

Physiotherapists are in this manner fit to address the physical and mental intricacies of stoutness. Physiotherapists give important info and aptitude in the multi-disciplinary administration of obesity. The guidance can assist the person with improving clinical results and patient experience.

While the significance of being genuinely dynamic is too essential, sometimes, patients frequently experience problems and challenges in doing such physical activities. Working on the physical activities of the patients will increase their signs and potential physical working potential.

Every physical activity plan should be referenced by an expert physiotherapist. An evaluation and treatment plan from a physiotherapist will assist with finding the boundaries to work out. A healthy treatment plan for an obese patient involves:

  • Provision of the customized way of life guidance, considering singular mentalities, social and social inclinations, and physical workout plan to change.
  • Healthy prescription, management, and movement of suitable physical work will work to build muscle strength, adaptability, and perseverance. It should support energy to improve and keep up with weight reduction under protected conditions.
  • The body requires management of related conditions like joint inflammation, back torment, and other musculoskeletal and persistent conditions, like coronary illness.

How Changing Your Daily Habits Can Effect Obesity Condition:

Changing your dietary and physical work propensities and way of life is challenging. However, with a healthy workout arrangement, exertion, ordinary assistance, and persistence, you might have the option to get in shape and work on your wellbeing. The following tips might help you to grow approaches to get in shape. In this way, you can participate in standard active work and further develop a healthy weight over the long term.

  1. You need to be ready for problems that are typical after a mishap, such as indulging in a family or working environment group, attempting to refocus and zeroing in on returning to your smart dieting plan simply. Attempt to eat just when you’re sitting at your lounge area or kitchen table.
  2. Having explicit objectives can help you keep focused. If you want to be more dynamic, then you should maintain your healthy objective to walk 15 to 30 minutes before work or at lunch on Monday and Friday. But if you miss a stroll on Monday, follow the physical therapy again on Tuesday.
  3. Request help or consolation from your family, companions, or medical services experts. You can get support face to face, through email or messaging, or by chatting on the telephone. You can likewise join a care group.

Final Verdict:

Obesity can affect a lot of adults and old age people. The issue of being overweight can contribute to age, and state and also bring social-economical levels. It adds to numerous constant sicknesses and can even reason for early passing. It can add to joint agony because of the expanded pressure that abundant body weight puts on joints, muscles, and spinal plates.

It can likewise cause a deficiency of work in routine life. It also overcomes the capacity to perform everyday exercises like strolling, climbing steps, or doing family tasks.

Various choices for treating obesity are accessible today. The whole examination includes decreased calorie consumption, adding physical exercise, conduct adjustment, medicine, and medical procedure. Some physical therapists are experts and specialized in providing physical therapy solutions as well. It can also prevent the issue of daily work plans for people who are overweight and can prevent the advancement and development in the further stages of life as well.

Frequently Asked Questions FAQs:

How does physical therapy treatment assist with the issue of being overweight?
Physical therapy can assist people who are large to be all the more truly dynamic and fit by encouraging them to practice in problem-free and fun ways. Physical exercise is vital on the grounds that it helps consume calories, dispose of fat, safeguard muscle tissue, and ensure your joints.

Will physical therapy assist with weight reduction?
Your physical therapist and expert physician will work with you to work on your healthy weight. They likewise can assist you with working on your high-impact limit (capacity to change oxygen over to energy during exercise). Both vigorous and workout activities assist with weight reduction and weight control.

Would you be able to reduce the problems of obesity?
Barouche says it’s notable that being overweight builds the danger of cardiovascular illness in people. Also, recent research has shown that by cutting calories and getting more fit, a portion of the impending impacts of corpulence on the heart can be switched.

What precisely does an expert physical specialist do?
Physical advisors assess and record a patient’s advancement. Expert physicians assist harmed or sick individuals with further developing development and oversee torment. They are frequently a significant piece of preventive consideration, restoration, and therapy for patients with ongoing conditions, ailments, or wounds.

Would obesity be able to be lasting?
No perfect solution for the recovery of obesity will aside from carefully contracting the stomach. There’s an upsetting truth that is arising out of the study of obesity. Following quite a while of study, it’s becoming obvious that it’s almost difficult to get more fit weight.

Therapist Assist You in Sports Rehabilitation

How Does a Physical Therapist Assist You in Sports Rehabilitation?

When it comes to any sport, the risk of injury is always there. Injuries could keep you from playtime. Minor and major injuries are part of sports activity. If you have an injury, it is essential to treat it right away to prevent further damage. Here comes the role of sports rehabilitation.

Sports rehabilitation is a type of physical therapy that treats individuals of all ages who have an injury, illness, or musculoskeletal system pain.

Sports rehabilitation helps maintain health and fitness by using exercise, movement, and therapeutic intervention. It also helps you recover from injury and reduce pain. Lawton Physical Therapy focuses on biomechanics and exercise rehabilitation. Its main purpose is to return patients to their highest level of function.

What is Sports Rehabilitation?
What is Sports Rehabilitation

Sports rehabilitation is one of the popular and multidisciplinary approaches to treating injuries so that athletes can have normal pain-free movement. The Multidisciplinary team of sports rehabilitation consists of highly trained professionals such as physical therapists, athletic trainers, chiropractors, and massage therapists. Whether the athlete is amateur or professional, the main goal is to return to pre-injury activities.

Sprains and strains are common body injuries treated by the sports rehabilitation team. A sprain happens when a ligament is stretched or torn. On the other hand, a strain happens when a muscle is stretched too much or torn.

Sports rehabilitation can also treat fractures, arthritis, joint replacements, and generalized pain issues.

Principle of Sports Rehabilitation:
Principle of Sports Rehabilitation

1.     Pain Management Treatment:

Rehabilitation commonly starts with a pain management treatment program that a licensed physical therapist provides. They utilize some modalities such as ice or heat application, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation for pain relief.

Ultrasound is a supportive device to increase circulation to the affected or injured area, which helps in speeding up the healing procedure. It can also decrease the edema or swelling causing pain. Electrical stimulation utilizes electric waves that penetrate the muscle and help relieve pain. It is commonly known as TENS, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

2.     Recovering Sports-Specific Movements:

For the last phase of rehabilitation, Lawton Physical Therapy will have you perform exercises that simulate the particular movements you’d use when competing in your sport. You will not return to action until you can perform all the movements you could before the injury took place. After they’ve finished this step, our patients should feel confident that they can start to compete without fear of injury.

3.     Stretching and Exercise:

The main components of sports rehabilitation are stretching and exercise routine. Stretching helps the muscles reduced by injury or pain to regain their normal length to optimize pain-free motion.

But it is stated that exercise routines can hold on to things like strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance to enhance performance. The ultimate body progression of the exercise routine is the utilization of functional exercises to assist the athlete to his former performance level. Functional exercises are often sport-specific.

4.     Injury Prevention:

Athletic trainers can also be an essential part of the healing process and the prevention of further injury. They often can provide immediate intervention for an injury. A massage therapist can supply the manual methods to help in the recovery of movement and the pain relief needed for optimal performance in the sport.

5.     Use of Chiropractors:

It is known as the health care professional tool that most professionals use in their journey. It helps in the expansion of the spine and manual soft tissue techniques. Nowadays, many rehabilitation programs use chiropractors. Many chiropractors are also trained in workout and stretching techniques. It helps in the recovery of pre-injury performance.

Firstly, sports rehabilitation starts with the therapy of acute injury. It then follows the athlete through every stage of recovery. Rehabilitation is a comprehensive healing program that focuses on every aspect of pain-free, effective, sports-specific movement, from pain relief to optimizing muscle strength and life to returning to pre-injury performance to injury prevention.

How does Oklahoma Physical Therapy Assist You?

Athletes, by nature, generally want to push themselves to achieve new goals. Normally, many Olympic sprinters take on the slopes at the winter games, and college athletes achieve national titles in multiple sports for this same reason.

Moreover, our Oklahoma Physical Therapy specialists are movement experts who can help you prevent injuries and improve your technique. A few of the biggest advantages of working with a physical therapist for your sport include:

1.     Developing healthy habits:

Oklahoma Physical Therapy is a great resource to have when focusing on increasing strength and muscular functionality, as they can help you improve in all aspects of health and fitness. They can help you work on general wellness goals and physical goals. For example, regular exercise, having a healthy diet, and a strong focus on hydration are basic in improving your physical fitness level.

2.     Refocusing strengths:

Many parts of the body can support each other, and strengthening one can assist with the function of another. Oklahoma Physical Therapy can help you focus on increasing your strength in areas that you may not have considered. Rather than jumping immediately into a new form of activity, it makes sense to teach your body to react to the new form of stimulation by boosting your muscular strength and range of motion.

3.     Overcoming injuries:

Strength and conditioning strategies are some of the best ways to overcome an injury as well as to find relief for your pain. Each therapy is designed particularly to your requirements and the condition of your injury, including exercises and strength-building activities that are unique to your healing.

When participating in sports conditioning or pre-season training sessions, your goals never have to be definite. Physical Therapy can assist you in achieving the height of your achievement in one area of your sport and then help you tackle the conference of another.

Does Physical Therapy Overcome Sports Injuries?
Physical Therapy Overcome Sports Injuries

Physical therapy helps an athlete to rebuild strength and movement after an injury through different exercises, stretches, and specialized techniques. It can also assist an athlete in managing pain and preventing avoidable injury in the future.

It Can Increase Body Mobility:

Physical Therapy assesses your mobility to focus on areas of improvement when your pain has lessened. This contains problematic areas such as the neck, shoulder, back, and hips. Any unexamined joint limitations can negatively affect all factors of your movement and enhance the chances of future injury. Working on the proper form through dedicated physical therapy will help you move more smoothly overall.

It Can Refined Flexibility:

Poor training methods, ineffective warm-up, and lack of conditioning are a few of the main reasons for sports injuries. Knowing how to work on your body and when you have reached your limit are important skills to keep in mind during your recovery. Your physical therapist will assess your flexibility by evaluating and examining key muscle group issues.

It Can Eliminate Sports Pain:

Knowing when to work through the pain in a controlled setting is ideal for relearning your body’s limits. Serious injuries can have lasting effects on athletes well after their surgery has healed.

Your physical therapy sessions and treatment may consist of working with a team of therapists who specialize in a list of healing methods to help best treat your recovery.

It Can Increase Body Strength:

Working with Oklahoma Physical Therapy to regain full functionality of the injured area includes rebuilding strong muscles. This is done by honing in on your goals and areas that need improvement through a therapy plan that best supports you.

Your muscles work in a chain reaction to give the most powerful force. If one or multiple of these areas are weaker than others, your body will try to compensate, ultimately resulting in injury. Due to rest or possible casts and braces, the muscles surrounding your injury will be weaker and need rehabilitative conditioning.

Physical therapy will not only get you back to where you were before your injury but also provide you with the need to avoid reoccurrence.

Final Verdict:

Whether you’re going to recover from an injury or trying to strengthen your skills, working with Lawton Physical Therapy can help you reach your peak performance. Their dedicated team will not only help you achieve your goals but also assist you in developing new ones.

Don’t hesitate to request an appointment today if you are interested in working with one of our licensed physical therapists for sports conditioning or pre-season training!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

How is rehabilitation effective in games and sports?
Rehabilitation is a way to rebuild your power, strength, flexibility, and endurance after having a sports injury. As critical as rehabilitation is after an injury, it is often unnoticed. This could cost a person the full recovery they need to get back to their sport and prevent further injury.

How important is physical rehabilitation in sports injuries?
Physical rehabilitation is a process of healing from sports injuries. Physical therapy helps to regain strength and movement in parts of the body after having an injury. It can also help a person manage pain, and simultaneously, it can help to prevent permanent damage or recurring problems.

How can physical therapy help athletes?
Physical therapy includes different types of exercises, stretches, and specialized techniques which help an athlete rebuild strength and movement after an injury. It can also help an athlete manage pain and prevent avoidable damage in the future.

How does sports rehab differ from physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy aims to rehabilitate patients to allow them to feel comfortable and manage daily life, while Sports therapy concentrates more on whether the patient has returned to or can maintain the required physical level for whatever sporting activity they would like to carry out.

Is sports therapy the same as sports massage?
When it comes to Sports Massage, it is a single element of Sports Therapy. Level 3 Sports Massage focuses on primary massage techniques performed on ‘no-pathological, or ‘uninjured’ tissue.

Spine Therapy Spinal PT Guide

What Must You Know About Spine Therapy? Spinal PT Guide

When you become the victim of chronic back pain, then it is difficult for doctors to treat. It is also possible that doctors can treat back pain without surgery. For this, they can do a spinal manipulation and lifestyle changes.

Back pain is a disease that is spreading all over the world. According to research, it has been revealed that almost 80% of adults suffer from low back pain. The cause of the pain is when you lift heavy items or have an accident. As a result, it causes muscles strain and low back pain. Some other conditions are also the reason for back pain. These conditions are arthritis, scoliosis, and osteoporosis. So, we will discuss the non-surgical treatments for spine pain, like Lawton Fusion Physical Therapy. 

Non-Surgical Treatments to Treat Chronic Spine Pain:
Non-Surgical Treatments to Treat Chronic Spine Pain

Most often, doctors recommend the patient to treat back pain through surgery. It depends upon the cause of the back pain. But it is not necessary for you to always go for the surgery. In case of pain in which you don’t need surgery, you can use other treatments. So, you can choose any of those options to treat your pain without surgery. The following are the therapies that will help you relieve back pain:

Spinal Manipulation:

It is estimated that almost 31 million people in America are suffering from back pain. It is the most widespread health problem that becomes the cause of lack of activity. It is a health issue that commonly occurs in adults under the age of 45.
Spinal Manipulation

No matter what is the cause of the back pain and its intensity. Physical therapists are very experienced and provide spine therapy to the patients who need it. So, spinal manipulation is the best way that helps in the treatment of spine pain. When you go for this therapy, then you don’t need to go for surgery. In this technique, the therapist uses hands to adjust, massage, or stimulate the spine.

According to several studies, it has been revealed that spinal manipulation is an effective way to treat spinal back pain. But remember, this technique does not always work for everyone. Patients suffering from osteoporosis, arthritis, and spinal cord issues should not go for this technique.

If the therapist is professional and licensed, then he can give this treatment. The following are the people who can perform this technique:

  • Certified chiropractors
  • Physical therapists
  • Osteopathic doctors
  • Medical doctors

When an expert therapist performs spinal manipulation, then the chances of side effects are less. But if you feel any side effects like discomfort, then it can be removed in 1-2 days.

Spine Rehabilitation:

Everyone may suffer from the issue of back pain at any point in their life. In this modern world, almost everyone is suffering from back injuries. But in the past, the ratio of patients who suffered from pain was less. So, now we need to go to experts for treatment.
Spine Rehabilitation

The other technique that is useful for treating spine pain is spine rehabilitation. In this technique, firstly, experts check the spinal injury and know the cause of pain. You will be surprised when you will know that the cause of back pain is the issues in other parts of the body. Once the therapist knows the cause of the pain. Then he tries to understand its effects on the activity of the patient.

Benefits of Spine Rehabilitation
Benefits of Spinal Physical Therapy_

The following are the benefits that you can get from spine rehabilitation therapy:

  • Release pain/control indications
  • Define cause of pain
  • Bring back the healthy movement of the body
  • Support & alleviate the body’s core muscle
  • Improve strength to avoid reoccurrence of signs

There are several ways to avoid the chances of re-injury to gain the maximum health of the body. The patients need to be educated and trained. Lawton Fusion Physical Therapy offers many components for the treatment of back and neck pain.

Physical therapy:
Spine Physical Therapy

An expert therapist guides the patient to stretch the muscles and exercise in physical therapy. Through these exercises, tension releases, and also specific areas become strengthened. So, as a result, it helps the patient to release pain. According to research, it was revealed that the patients, who use physical therapy, don’t need other health care for the pain.

Getting Assistance from Expert Spine Physical Therapist:

When you decide to go for physical therapy, first know the cause of the back pain. There are different causes of this pain. Sometimes, you suffer from pain if you sit in a bad posture. Further, when you suddenly move, it becomes the cause of the sprain. When you suffer because of this reason, then your pain can decrease within a few days. For this, you need to do some minor treatments like heat therapy, rest, etc.
Assistance from Expert Spine Physical Therapist

While, if you have pain that becomes worse and more intense, it causes serious health effects. These health issues are:

  • Arthritis
  • Kidney issue
  • Herniated disc
  • Bowel tissue
  • Cancer and much more

If you don’t see any improvement in the pain symptoms, then go for medical help. So, your doctor will recommend physical therapy. But you need to wear easy clothes when you go to the appointment because you have to make many moves. It is essential to do because doctors want to see your posture, range of movement, and strength of muscles.

Benefits of Spinal Physical Therapy – What to Expect?
Benefits of Our Spine Physical Therapy

When you talk about the job of the physical therapist. Then he is the professional that can evaluate the cause of your back disorder. After that, suggest some exercises that will help you to become healthy. The following are the examples of exercises:

  • Stretching
  • Strength Exercise
  • Less effective aerobic exercises
  • Physical Therapy
  • Electrical Stimulus

Benefits of Our Spine Physical Therapy
Benefits of Spinal Physical Therapy

Personalized Care:

When you go to a physical therapist, then you can avail many benefits. One of these benefits is that he doesn’t treat you in the way he treats others. Firstly, he checks the cause of the pain, your age, body type, and health situation. Further, he also checks your response towards different motions.

Decreased pain:

It is the job of the therapist to check the position in which you walk, sit and lay down, then get up. So, in this way, it is easy for the therapist to suggest exercise accordingly. Therefore, it decreases the pain that occurs due to your movement. Further, a therapist can also use electrical stimuli to recover functionality.

Restored mobility:

The therapist looks at the cause of your pain, then treats it accordingly. If you have an issue with the stiffness of the lower back, then the therapist will reduce that stiffness. While, if you have an issue of weakness of muscles. Then the therapist will suggest you do strength exercises that will help you in the recovery of muscles.

May eliminate the need for surgery:

If your issue is not resolved through physical therapy, then the only option left behind is surgery. But it is good for you to go for the surgery first because it is the active way to treat back pain.

Reduces the risk of further injury:

When you need to do some activities regularly because of your duty or other reason, then the therapist considers those movements and recommends the patient to do recovery stretches. The reason to do so is to avoid the chances of future injury.

Reduces the risk of falls:

When you suffer from any disease, that is due to lack of support and increased chances of falls. The therapist also suggests activities that can enhance your balance and coordination. Further, by knowing the causes of the pain and factors responsible for pain, the therapist makes the best plan that gives a better result.

Final Verdict:

In the last, we have concluded that spine pain is a serious issue that spreads around the world. Almost everyone suffers from this pain once in a life. So, the need is to treat this pain to avoid future issues. For this, most people prefer surgery, but most people prefer other beneficial therapies.

So, we suggest you go for the Lawton Fusion physical Therapy that can solve your issue. The therapist will check the cause of your issue, then suggest exercises accordingly. So, you can enjoy your life and other activities without any pain.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Is physical therapy worth it for back pain?
Yes, physical therapy is the best way to treat your back pain. Most people have an issue that their pain returns after some time. So, in those cases, therapy is good instead of surgery. Commonly, the therapist suggests physical therapy if the condition becomes severe.

Can physical therapists adjust the spine?
Yes, physical therapy is the better option to adjust and manipulate your spine. So, you don’t need to go for the surgery, firstly go to the therapist.

How long should you go to physical therapy?
You should go for physical therapy until you feel that your condition is becoming severe. Commonly, physical therapy takes 6-8 weeks for the healing process. But if you don’t see any improvements, then go for the surgery.

How long does it take for physical therapy to help back pain?
For patients who have an issue with low back pain, then the therapy can decrease your pain in 4 weeks. But if your condition becomes severe, then the therapist suggests you go for surgery.

What is the success rate of physical therapy?
The following are the success rates of physical therapy:

  • 68.3% for manual therapy
  • 50.8% for physical therapy
  • 35.9% for continued care. 

The pain difference results from manual therapy are compared with physical therapy. It ranges from 0.9 to 1.5 on a scale of 0 to 10.

Physical Therapy Guide on Diabetes

A Physical Therapy Guide on Diabetes & Lifestyle

Around the world, people are experiencing diabetes as a chronic disease caused by the inactivity or inefficient activity of the pancreas. The pancreas is responsible for producing insulin that the body will utilize to manage the glucose level in the blood for a smooth or an active lifestyle. But due to poor lifestyle, inactivity, or other health complications, diabetes rate is getting higher. It is common among older age people, adults, and even teenagers or kids.

For the management of diabetes, it is important to follow an active lifestyle. Because with physical activity, it is easier to lower the glucose level in the body and a person performs the lifestyle activities normally.

Get to Know About the Chronic Disease:

Diabetes is a chronic disorder caused due to the disturbance of insulin hormone in the body. The hormone is responsible for maintaining the body function and managing optimal glucose levels inside the body—usually, people with diabetes experience high blood glucose levels that cause various health issues.
Chronic Disease

Sugar production in the body is not properly utilized by the cells, and a person fails to proceed towards a normal lifestyle. Diabetes comes with two different cases, including type-1 and type-2 diabetes that is common in people around the world. Moreover, gestational diabetes usually affects women during pregnancy.

Understand different types of diabetes:
types of diabetes

There are reportedly three types of diabetes with different causes, symptoms, and treatment. When it comes to understanding diabetes, it is important to know the type to get the assistance for the relevant type. Following is what you should know while studying about diabetes:

  • Types 1

Type 1 diabetes is a situation in which the pancreas fails to produce insulin due to immune system damage. The system attacks the pancreas and destroys beta cells, and a person has to take it artificially through injection to manage the insulin level in the body. Usually, such types are available for children and adults.

  • Type 2

Type 2 diabetes can develop at any age in which the body becomes resistant to insulin. It means the body produces insulin and is not able to produce enough insulin to dominate the insulin resistance in the body.

  • Gestational diabetes

Usually occurs in women at the time of pregnancy. But with care and precaution, it will go away easily. Women with a family history of diabetes are at high risk of being affected by gestational diabetes.

What are the potential causes or complications?

When it comes to knowing or explore about the complications and causes, they are varied and depend on the type of diabetes. As for type 1, the cause is not defined and still unknown. But for two other types, the reasons can be poor diet, inactive lifestyle, weight gain, or obesity that puts a person in a complicated situation.
potential causes or complications

It is important to diagnose and treat it on time to avoid future health complications. Various complications are related to diabetes. Some are as follows:

  • Heart stroke
  • High blood pressure
  • Kidney failure
  • Vision problem or blindness
  • Skin problem, ulcers, sores
  • Blood circulation problem or narrow blood vessels
  • Poor balance, nerve damage
  • Pains, depression, and anxiety
  • Amputation (loss or removal of a body part)
  • Early death

How to diagnose by understanding symptoms?
diagnose by understanding

When it comes to diagnosis, it is important to know the symptoms that are usually caused by diabetes. If the person reports symptoms only, then the diagnosis can be possible. Here are some early signs that showed up in a person having diabetes includes:

  • Increase in urination
  • Feeling extreme hunger or thirst
  • Muscles fatigue, tiredness, and sweating
  • Blur vision
  • Numbness, burning, cramps, and weakness
  • Severe chronic pains or restlessness
  • Quick weight loss or gain
  • Slow sores healing
  • Bladder, skin, and vaginal infection

In case of experiencing any of the above-mentioned symptoms, it is necessary to consult with the doctor. The health care provider evaluates the symptoms and their nature. Moreover, some medical test examinations are recommended that are essential for early diagnosis.

A person who is with diabetes should require assistance from a physical therapist. A therapist will plan a program based on a person’s personalized medical condition. It helps to improve lifestyle, mobility and reduce the other complications faced by a diabetic.

Physical therapist to improve lifestyle with diabetes:

Diabetes is a long-life managing disease that requires care, activity, and change in lifestyle to avoid complications. A person will get help from a physical therapist that will improve the daily routine, but also effectively reduce pain or other problems.
improve lifestyle with diabetes

A therapist will help with checking the glucose level in the blood, examination of the sores and skin infection, and helps with quick healing. Moreover, suggest some home-based training that is effective for managing glucose levels. A physical therapist will do the complete inspection, including balance monitoring, skin sensation, flexibility, and coordination. After that, suggests a personalized plan that will help with the following:

1. Strength & flexibility:
Strength & flexibility

A physical therapist will help to improve the overall flexibility and regain strength. It is through exercise programs and home-based exercises that will help to improve mobility. Further, the therapist will help to do some stretching exercises to treat the muscle soreness and reduce stiffness. You can learn the ways through which it is easier to work over the flexibility improvement.

2. Balance & coordination:
Balance & coordination

People with diabetes are at high risk to suffer from balance problems. There are chances of poor coordination and inability to prevent yourself from falling. With coordination improvement training and balance regaining exercises, it is easier to regain energy and live a normal life.

3. Managing blood glucose:

Glucose level monitoring and keeping it at the optimal range is a real challenge for people with diabetes. It is essential to consult with the therapist and get some advice for the personalized training programs. According to health care personnel, with exercise, it is easier to lower the glucose level in the bloodstream. Even at some stages, the diabetes type 2 can be cured with physical exercise programs.

4.  Sores protection & healing:

In the diabetic person, the sores and wounds are at a low rate of healing. It can raise the overall threat and put a person in serious complications. But with the proper care, inspection of skin condition, it is easy to avoid sores from the building. A physical therapist will check the footwear and suggest precautions to avoid sores or wounds.

5. Daily activities & improvement:
Daily activities & improvement

A physical therapist will suggest a better exercise program, according to the medical history. By adding daily activities, it is easier to improve mobility, coordination, and lifestyle.

6. Surgery support:

Due to diabetes, the chances of organ damage are at high risk. So, if a patient requires surgery, then a physical therapist will help in preparation. Moreover, they will help in recovery duration by working on lowering pain and improving coordination or movement. Even in severe cases, people come back quickly towards the normal lifestyle and start moving.

Can the condition be prevented?

In the case of diabetes type 1, the condition cannot be prevented because, in medical history, its reasons or causes are still unknown. But in the case of diabetes type 2, the cure or prevention is possible by following a healthy lifestyle and keeping yourself active. A physical therapist will help to manage the routine physical exercise to treat obesity and improve coordination.

Which type of physical therapist will help?

If you are looking for a physical therapist for diabetes management and avoiding risk, then you should get a recommendation from a health care advisor. Moreover, you can ask for a referral from a friend or relative. The therapist with the certification and experience in healing or treating people with diabetes will be a feasible option to choose. You have to consult with the therapist before the symptoms get worse.

Military Injuries and Physical Therapy

Military Injuries and Physical Therapy

Military Injuries and Physical TherapyMusculoskeletal pain has been a major complaint among young soldiers who consult physical therapists. In fact, in the United States, nonbattle injuries account for the most outpatient medical encounters among soldiers – over 2 million annually. These injuries can be so severe that they may prevent nearly 65% of soldiers from being deployed due to medical conditions.

Those with musculoskeletal pain usually feel aches throughout the entire body, or as if their muscles have been overworked. Symptoms like fatigue, pain, or sleep disruption are also prevalent among people with musculoskeletal injuries. 

Usually, musculoskeletal disorders affect the musculoskeletal system, consisting of the nerves, tendons, muscles, discs, ligaments, and blood vessels.

Causes of Musculoskeletal Injuries

The following are some of the causes of painful musculoskeletal muscles:

  • Forceful exertions
  • Repetitive and stereotyped motions 
  • Vibration
  • Non-neutral postures
  • Etc.

Why Do Soldiers Suffer From Musculoskeletal Pains?

Soldiers usually go through intense physical training programs — from basic training and building muscle strength to being deployed in the field. As a result, injuries are bound to happen.

However, when injuries occur, the culture of specialized units prevents immediate injury rehabilitation causing even minor injuries to worsen.

All the same, painful musculoskeletal injuries may be as a result of the following conditions:

  • Incorrect exercise programs: This may include employment of extreme physical exercises and overuse
  • Battle scars: When someone is injured during training, sometimes they may not be adequately attended and at the right time, making the condition of the injuries worse
  • Living conditions: Apart from incorrect exercises, sometimes soldiers in the fields or camps may lack staff like sports psychologists, conditioning coaches, and physical therapists to help them facilitate treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery

How Fusion Physical Therapy Can Help

It is vital for soldiers with musculoskeletal conditions to go through all treatment stages: from the acute phase when the injury occurs to the surgery and rehabilitation process where physical therapy comes in.

When you visit us here at Fusion Physical Therapy, Lawton, Oklahoma, our injury specialists will first examine your medical history. They will also conduct several tests for joint stability and range of motion before they customize a treatment plan for you.

Contact us today and book an appointment.

Back Pain and Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy Benefits for Back Pain

Back Pain and Physical Therapy
If you’ve ever had back pain, then you’re not alone. Nearly
80 percent of adults experience back pain at some stage in their lives. 

Back pain is one of the leading causes of work disability and ranks at the top among the common reasons people miss work. Sadly, most people resolve back pain with opioid painkillers instead of focusing on noninvasive treatments like physical therapy. 

Unlike the use of pain relievers, alternative therapies not only help patients avoid opioid addiction, but they will also reduce the chances of needing surgery for chronic back pain.

What Causes Back Pain?

Several factors, including the following, cause back pain:

  • Medical conditions like arthritis
  • Cancer of the spine
  • Inflamed or ruptured discs
  • Ligament Strain
  • Lack of exercise
  • Scoliosis: Abnormal alignment or curvature of the spine
  • Osteopenia/Osteoporosis
  • Sleep disorders
  • Muscle tension
  • Over-stretching
  • Etc.

What are the Symptoms of Back Pain?

The most common symptom of back pain is feeling stabbing pain and ache across the back. You might also feel muscle aches and tingling extending to your legs and buttocks.

If you have acute pain, the best thing is to work out your back and rest for a few days. However, chronic back pain can sometimes be excruciating, lasting for at least 12 weeks. You might even develop other symptoms like weight loss, numbness, and pain going below your knees, fever, and weakness. 

If you start experiencing the above, then it’s time to seek professional help.

How We Can Help

At Fusion Physical Therapy, we have an unwavering commitment to supporting patients to regain their pain-free lives. We have certified physical therapists that will walk with you every step of the way while customizing the right treatment plan for you: whether it’s a hands-on-massage technique, personalized back strengthening exercises, dry needling, or cupping. 

If you’re suffering from back pain, don’t hesitate to contact us here and book an appointment with our back pain specialist.

 

Trigger Point Dry Needling

Trigger Point Dry NeedlingThere are certain circumstances where pain persists despite an available treatment because of muscles that have developed into knots. This is called myofascial pain, and knotted areas are called trigger points. These trigger points are painful and highly sensitive when touched.

Physical therapists may use the technique of dry needling (DN), also called trigger point dry needling. This is the modern practice of pushing thin solid needles through the skin into trigger points to stimulate the tissue.

The technique releases tension and muscle spasm in the knotted area, stimulating the body to discharge natural pain-blocking and anti-inflammatory chemicals. This eases tension, inflammation, and pressure in the muscles that allow patients to move more freely because of the immediate pain relief.

Why you should consider trigger point dry needling

Dry Needling is often confused with acupuncture. The difference between the two is that acupuncture has been used by the Chinese for thousands of years as an alternative treatment to relieve pain by opening a person’s energy flow or chi. Dry needling has been around only in the last two decades and is designed to stimulate trigger points to ease persisting, irritable pain. Some of the pains alleviated by practicing dry needling are as follows:

  • Low back pain/tension
  • Neck pain
  • Tennis elbow
  • Migraines
  • Spinal dysfunction
  • Joint dysfunction
  • Sciatica
  • And more

If you suffer from such pain, consider consulting with highly specialized professionals like those here at Fusion Physical Therapy, to determine if administering the DN technique is right for you.

Side-effects of dry needling

Dry needling has many benefits and just a few side natural effects that are not serious to your health, like:

  • minor abrasion
  • trivial bleeding
  • temporary soreness

How we can help 

Fusion Physical Therapy has experienced and highly-trained physical therapists certified to perform this technique. It will be part of an overall treatment plan that includes exercise, manual therapy, and education.

Our physical therapists are equipped with the latest techniques in handling these types of issues. After a thorough evaluation of your particular case, our team of professionals here at Fusion Physical Therapy will design the best, personalized treatment program possible, utilizing the latest in innovative techniques, to bring you optimum relief.

Contact us today and schedule an appointment so you can start your journey back to a pain-free lifestyle.

 

In the Wake of the Opioid Crisis, Physical Therapy a Safer Bet in Alleviating Pain

Opioid Crisis and Physical TherapyAs we navigate through everyday living, it is almost a given that we will experience pain at some point. From minor pains like headaches and bump-related foot pain to pains as a result of major accidents, illnesses or disease, there is no telling how the pain will come.  Regardless of the cause of the pain, it is always important to know how to manage it.

Unfortunately, the need to manage pain has led to the opioid crisis existing today. Opioids are an excellent way to manage pain, but their addictive properties mean that a lot of people remain hooked to the medications long after the pain treatment has ended.  The high risk of addiction to opioids is why physical therapy is a better solution to deal with pain. Apart from helping to alleviate pain, physical therapy can uncover the underlying cause of the pain.

Limiting the use of opioids

The scourge of opioid overuse can be attributed to several factors such as improper management of the prescription process and a general lack of understanding of the risks involved with each of these medications. Misinformation from the pharmaceutical brands making the opioids is also a factor.

Generally, the use of opioids for pain treatment should be limited to intense, short-term pain. If you use opioids for chronic pain, the effectiveness will wane after a while hence the start of the slippery slope of addiction.

How we can help

Even when faced with inhibitory but common pain (such as lower back or knee pain), do not use opioids. Talk to a qualified physical therapist to find the source of the pain and receive holistic and cost-effective treatment. When you treat the underlying causes of the pain, you will not lose resources on the same issue in the future.

Here at Fusion Physical Therapy in Lawton, Oklahoma, our certified physical therapists will provide a permanent solution to your pain. The consultation sessions will help us to create a unique treatment plan for your specific pain. You don’t have to put yourself at the risk of becoming an opioid addict. Get in touch with our professional physical therapists today!

Taking Care of Your Achilles Tendon

Achilles Tendon, physical therapyFor many people, a ruptured Achilles will be their first experience of a ruptured tendon. This is because the Achilles tendon is the most pronounced in the body.  Apart from its size, it also stretches from the calf muscles down to the bones in the heel. The size and spread of the Achilles tendon make it prone to injuries.

Many injuries to the tendon are generally mild, resolving quickly over a short period. However, thousands of people suffer severe tendon injuries, including tears and ruptures.  People aged between 30 and 49 are the most vulnerable group when it comes to Achilles tendon injuries.

When looking for solutions for an injured Achilles tendon, there is a wide range of treatment options available to you. However, physical therapy is one of the most effective.  Here at Fusion Physical Therapy Lawton, Oklahoma, we have physical therapists with decades of experience in the creation of bespoke therapy plans for the treatment of all Achilles tendon injuries.

What to Expect from Fusion Physical Therapy

Your customized treatment plan might include all or some of the following:

  • Heat therapy (with paraffin, moist hot packs and heating pads):  enhance the flow of blood in the area. It will also trigger the relaxation of the muscles to increase the chances of healing.
  • Cold therapy (with cold packs and ice massage): This therapy option will help decrease swelling and the attendant pain that comes with an Achilles injury.
  • Stretching activities:  exercises that involve stretching to reduce the chances of a relapse.
  • Strength training: targeted at regaining strength lost throughout your tendon injury.
  • Deep massage: enhance blood flow and reduce the chances of future injury to your Achilles tendon.

With severe Achilles tendon injuries, surgery may be the first treatment. After the surgery, the physical therapy session can begin. Here at Fusion Physical Therapy in Lawton, Oklahoma, we are experienced in working with doctors to create a physical therapy plan specifically made for you.

Your physical therapy treatment will begin three weeks after surgery. Some of the options include the following:

  • Manual therapy
  • Therapeutic exercises
  • Trigger Point Dry Needling (TrP-DN)- Targeted at the soreness and tenderness around the trigger points.
  • Protection-Rest-Ice-Compression-Elevation (PRICE)- Designed for inflammation control.

We are waiting for you here at Fusion Physical Therapy in Lawton, Oklahoma. Get in touch with our certified physical therapists today for your practical and customized Achilles tendon Injury.

You Can Now Be Free from Knee Pain

Physical Therapy for Knee PainKnee pain is common in many adults. Apart from the ever-present feeling of discomfort it brings, it can also disrupt your everyday living.  When dealing with knee pain, you will not be able to walk around correctly or engage in the physical activities you love.

Sadly, the number of reported cases of knee pain in the United States has increased over the last two decades. More than 25% of adults in the country have experienced knee pain at some point. Fortunately, knee pain can be treated effectively with the aid of exercises and physical therapy. Do you live in Oklahoma? Talk to the experienced physical therapists in Fusion Physical Therapy, Lawton to get rid of the knee pain!

What are the causes of knee pain?

There are three causes of mild and chronic knee pain:

  • Injuries
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Surgery

Regardless of the underlying cause of your mild or chronic knee pain, you can trust the physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy in Lawton, Oklahoma, to deliver relief. The treatments are designed on a case by case basis, to resolve your knee problems as quickly as possible.

What are the types of knee pain?

The type of knee pain is dependent on the location of the pain in your knee. There are five types of knee pain and they include the following:

  • Medial knee pain
  • Osteoarthritis knee pain
  • Anterior knee pain
  • Lateral knee pain
  • Ligament tear pain

Regardless of the kind of pain, the outcome is the same: inability to seamlessly engage in activities that require the use of your legs.

How we can help

When you contact our physical therapists here at Fusion Physical Therapy in Lawton, Oklahoma, for a solution to your knee pain, the first step is a comprehensive analysis of your knees to isolate the underlying causes. After evaluating your medical history and symptoms presented, we can create a treatment plan that is best suited for you.  The treatment may include the following:

  • Electrical stimulation
  • Ice treatment
  • Heat therapy
  • Individualized exercises
  • Etc.

Book your appointment today to get started!

What Sports Therapy Does for You

Sports TherapySports therapy is vital for all sports professionals and all active individuals. Apart from helping to reduce the risk of injuries, sports therapy can also be used to prevent injuries from happening in the first place while enhancing your body’s physical condition.

Here at Fusion Physical Therapy in Lawton, Oklahoma, our experienced physical therapists deploy a combination of physiological and pathological processes to reverse the damage done by injuries. This allows the athlete to rediscover their pre-injury form in little time.

We offer the following as part of our sports therapy treatment:

  • Fitness level assessment
  • Test and evaluation of the body areas in focus, to isolate pain and rule out any dysfunction
  • Mental and physical preparations ahead of competitions
  • Emergency medical aid
  • Development and implementation of a bespoke and comprehensive treatment regime
  • Injury rehabilitation using manual therapy, electrotherapy and more
  • Recommendation for advanced care where necessary

How is Sports Therapy Beneficial to Sports Professionals?

  • Psychological improvements:  proper sports therapy helps athletes relax mentally and improves their overall mental wellbeing.  This allows them to engage in activities without being on edge hence reducing the chances of avoidable injuries occurring.
  • Pain and stress management: sports therapy releases endorphins in the body.  Endorphins are neurotransmitters that reduce stress and provide pain relief. They are also good mood enhancers.
  • Facilitation of lymph and blood flow:  optimum levels of lymph and blood flow reduces the chances of delayed muscle fatigue and soreness.

With these benefits,  you can see why all athletes and active residents of the Oklahoma area should enroll for sports therapy with our highly experienced professional sports therapists.

Remember, non-athletes can benefit immensely from sports therapy.  The chronic pain you are experiencing right now can be resolved by sports therapy. Have you been unable to complete your routine workouts as a result of a restricted range of motion?  We can help.

If you’d like to discuss your sports therapy options, get in touch with us now here at Fusion Physical Therapy in Lawton, Oklahoma.  We have highly experienced and certified physical therapists that can provide the best sports therapy treatment plan.

Book an appointment with us right away.

Soldier Injuries and Physical Therapy

Soldier Injuries and Physical TherapyThere has never been an institution that brought out as many musculoskeletal injuries as soldiers in the military. From physical training to military service, major complaints of young adult soldiers when they consult with physical therapists are painful musculoskeletal muscles. A musculoskeletal system consists of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, discs and blood vessels. Movement deficiencies and muscle imbalance are major causes of painful musculoskeletal conditions.

Why do soldiers suffer from musculoskeletal pains?

Soldiers go through extreme fitness training programs from the time they enter basic training to build muscle strength and endurance and maintain this when they get deployed in field assignments. Many times, the culture of specialized units prohibit rehabilitation for injuries that may have been kept from worsening had it been given immediate proper care and attention in the first place. These injuries could result from certain conditions, like:

  • Incorrect Exercise Program: Soldiers go through basic to advance training programs because of the strenuous nature of their jobs. Unfortunately, programs in the regular army, as opposed to special forces, tend to employ improper exercise routine that overwork some muscles, so they become overused and tight while neglecting others, so they become weak and lengthened. Advanced exercises don’t utilize proper body mechanics leading to injury, as our bodies are designed to move a very specific way.
  • Battle Scars: Injuries sustained in the course of their jobs improperly treated or not referred out by medical staff in the proper manner may also have prevented them from being treated by physical therapists in time and conditions in squad training make personal injuries worse. Only when they get home can they properly consult for correct treatment and physical therapy.
  • Living Conditions: Aside from improper exercise, there is a lack of health personnel in camps and fields. Staff like strength and conditioning coaches, physical therapists and sports psychologists are not on hand to facilitate preventive treatment, recovery, and rehabilitation.

How Fusion Physical Therapy can help

Soldiers with musculoskeletal injuries must go through stages of treatment – from the initial injury to surgery, to the rehab process wherein physical therapy rehabilitation is extremely important.

At Fusion Physical Therapy, our injury experts will conduct a thorough examination taking your medical history into account, then test for a range of motion and joint stability. We will then design a treatment plan specifically for your needs.

Contact Fusion Physical Therapy for an appointment today.

Back Pain and Physical Therapy

Back pain affects people from all walks of life and remains one of the most common reasons for seeking prescription pain medications. But many patients have found out they didn’t need to resort to medications by going first to physical therapy clinics such as Fusion Physical Therapy, for treatment. Not only do patients avoid getting addicted to certain pain meds, but they also eliminate the need for surgery for chronic pain conditions.

At Fusion Physical Therapy in Lawton, Oklahoma, certified physical therapists will treat your back pain with customized treatment practices so you can go back to your daily routines in just a few weeks.

Symptoms of serious back pain

  • Stabbing pain across the back
  • Stiffness, muscle aches, and/or spasms around the lower back area
  • Numbness, tingling, or pain that often extends to the legs
  • Pain around the back when lifting light to heavy objects
  • Pain around the back just by standing or walking

Chronic pain can be disruptive to your life since it can be excruciating, lasting from six weeks to over three months. You can relieve pain with prescribed pain medications – but only temporarily.

If you are experiencing unrelenting severe pain, there may be a bigger problem that needs more serious attention from a specialist. Consider visiting your doctor immediately if you are experiencing a significant loss of weight, fever, difficulty walking, or bladder problems.

Causes of back pain

Back pain is caused by structural changes in the body as a result of:

  • Arthritis (osteoarthritis, the most common cause of back pain)
  • Porous and brittle vertebrae (Osteopenia/Osteoporosis)
  • Abnormal curvature or alignment of the spine (Scoliosis)
  • Ruptured or inflamed discs
  • Repetitive lifting and twisting that strains muscles
  • Local inflammation that stresses nerve roots
  • Ligament Strain
  • Lack of exercise
  • Excessive weight
  • Smoking
  • Age

We can help you

Fusion Physical Therapy in Lawton, Oklahoma has an unwavering commitment to helping patients regain functional, pain-free lives.

Qualified physical therapists will work with you to create a customized treatment plan that may include manual treatments like cupping, hands-on massage techniques, instrument-assisted massage techniques, dry needling, and personalized back strengthening exercise programs you can do at home.

Let Fusion Physical Therapy help get you “back in the game”. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with a back pain specialist. You’ll be glad you did.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Physical Therapy

carpal tunnel syndromeThe cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is a compressed nerve in the patient’s carpal tunnel. The abnormal pressure results in pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand. This is the median nerve, and it runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand and affects sensation in the palm and fingers (except the little finger).

This condition greatly affects grip and wrist movement, affecting your ability to work. It may also be caused by other conditions like hypothyroidism, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, and pregnancy.

Physical therapy is an effective method in treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Who is at risk of carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome usually occurs in adults. Women are three times more at risk than men because the carpal tunnel may be smaller in women. The condition persists more in workers performing assembly line work than doing data-entry jobs, like:

  • Manufacturing
  • Sewing
  • Finishing
  • Cleaning
  • Meat, poultry, or fish packing
  • Long-hour typists
  • Keyboard and violin players
  • Weight lifters
  • Netball or basketball players

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome

Symptoms may first appear on the more dominant hand, most commonly at night due to the relaxed position of the hand when sleeping. They include:

  • Burning, tingling, or itching numbness when you wake up
  • Feeling of swelling though hand doesn’t look swollen
  • Tingling of hand during the day when the condition has worsened
  • Weakness of grip strength
  • No feeling of hot or cold by touch
  • In worse/untreated cases, the muscles at the base of the thumb may waste away

How we can help you

At Fusion Physical Therapy, we have a highly skilled team of physical therapists with vast experience in treating carpal tunnel syndrome. Our experts will examine you to effectively ascertain the cause of your condition, then create a customized treatment plan that will aid in the relief of your pain.

Here at  Fusion Physical Therapy, we can help you regain your grip strength and the normal range of motions in your wrist. Contact us to book your appointment with one of our certified, top physical therapy experts, and be on your way to a pain-free tomorrow, today!

Migraines and Physical Therapy

Migraines and Physical TherapyMigraines are a genetic, neural disorder affecting the central nervous system, mostly on one side of the head, though it may spread to the whole head. At times, pain may last for up to 72 hours. Migraines are a common symptom suffered across the globe. At Fusion Physical Therapy, our physical therapists are experts in dealing with the symptoms of this condition.

Difference between a migraine and a headache

The amount of pain makes migraines different from headaches. Headaches are more tolerable. Migraines come in throbbing sequences and are extremely painful.

Symptoms of migraines

The following are some of the symptoms of migraines:

  • Visual disturbance resulting in blurred vision and light sensitivity
  • Episodes of nausea
  • Numbness of face and/or extremities.
  • Extra sensitivity to sound and touch
  • Vomiting in extreme pain

Frequency of migraines

Migraines occur about every 15 days in a month. Every two weeks, you may encounter extreme pain. Severe pain and sensitivity to light and sound will stop you from functioning on daily activities and may severely hinder your work. It could stop you altogether in your ability to do your job.

Are migraines treatable?

Yes, but treatment is complicated. Like in cancer, heart disease or diabetes, patients may respond well to treatments, or they may not. There is a need to identify the triggering factors and adjust lifestyle to avoid these factors as much as possible. If light happens to be your trigger to a migraine attack, avoid light, or use photochromic glasses.

Stress is one of the most common triggers of migraine attacks. To curb the condition, you must have regular and sufficient sleep. You can take prescribed pain relievers when it occurs.

Most of all, you can seek professional help. Physical therapy, especially with muscle tension, neck immobility, poor posture, and disc pathology – among other factors associated with the upper musculoskeletal system.

Fusion Physical Therapy Can Help!!

At Fusion Physical Therapy, our certified physical therapists can provide the best treatment plan for treating your migraines.

Book an appointment for an assessment with one of our trained physical therapists and let Fusion Physical Therapy help you get started on experiencing a pain-free lifestyle today.

Post-operative Physical Therapy Rehabilitation | Fusion Physical Therapy

Post Operative Physical TherapyPost-operative physical therapy is also known as post-surgery rehabilitation, and it is a crucial part of physical therapy. It aids in proper healing of the muscles, bones, and soft tissues following surgery. It is necessary because it helps avoid injury or improper healing. Physical therapists will typically recommend that you take certain measures designed to prevent injury and improve the flexibility, motion, and function in a post-surgery rehabilitation program.

Post-surgery situations cause individuals to experience decreased functionality and flexibility since their body has limited mobility during the recovery period. To decrease the limitations that hamper normal activity, post-surgery rehabilitation is a valuable and effective treatment option.

At Fusion Physical Therapy, our qualified therapists will customize a physical therapy treatment plan for your recovery. The treatment plan will help you improve and increase your chances of effective recover of your normal body flexibility and functionality. We have an array of post-operative physical therapy treatments that will help you go back to carrying out your daily routines without strain or pain.

For people who want fast and effective recovery, it is important to abide by the recommendations that physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy will make. The certified therapists will take you through a treatment plan designed for:

  • Marginal scar tissue
  • Speedy recovery
  • Lessening of pain
  • Regaining a variety of motion
  • Re-establishment of strength
  • Full recovery of functionality to carry out daily responsibilities

How we help

Post-surgery rehabilitation will expedite the recovery process following your surgery. Our physical therapists are qualified and licensed to treat you. At Fusion Physical Therapy, we will personalize a suitable treatment option that will ensure you regain your strength and movement, as well as avert reinjury during the recovery period. A typical treatment plan includes the following:

  • Flexibility exercises
  • Muscle-strengthening exercises
  • Posture training
  • Ice and heat treatments
  • Manual therapy techniques
  • Home exercises

In addition, our physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy will take you through an educative program that will teach you how to avoid injuries. Contact us and let us create a custom treatment plan for you.

Soldier Injuries and Physical Therapy | Fusion Physical Therapy

Soldier Injuries and Physical TherapyFor individuals who have served in the military, musculoskeletal injuries typically occur at a high rate and are also known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). MSDs are caused by the endless vigorous exercises that military personnel undertake in their quest to reach and maintain high fitness levels. MSDs affect the musculoskeletal system of the human body. The system consists of every organ or tissue that enables form, stability, and movement throughout the body. These injuries are one of the typical reasons why soldiers seek appointments with their doctors.

Physical therapy is one of the valuable treatment options for soldiers that agonize with MSDs. Top in the list of physical therapies that military men and women may decide to take up is joint mobilization. Fusion Physical Therapy avails various treatment plans that will help the suffering soldier.

Role of physical therapists for soldiers

Soldiers need more sessions of physical therapy than the average person due to a variety of reasons which include:

  • Vigorous workout sessions – To ascertain that the soldiers are fit for battle, they undergo extreme training sessions. During these intense exercises, some end up sustaining deep MSDs that demand instant attention to avoid further injuries and stop the situation from becoming life-threatening.
  • Battle wounds – In their service during the battles, soldiers inevitably get wounds and scars. They sustain injuries during combat or even while handling military equipment.
  • Living circumstances – Soldiers often live in very tough conditions in their camps, and at times these unfavorable conditions may result in injuries, including back pain. In some of these cases, physical therapy can bring relief.

How we help

At Fusion Physical Therapy, we have qualified and certified physical therapists ready to perform an extensive examination to determine how best to help you. Our comprehensive examination and testing include reviewing the patient’s medical history and their most notable symptoms. The treatment plan may include the following:

  • Extreme temperature-based therapy
  • Customized home workouts
  • Manual therapy
  • Pose exercise and movements
  • Avoidance education

The physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy have many years of experience in diagnosing and treating soldier injuries using the most advanced physical therapies. They will work with you to come up with a personalized treatment plan designed to decrease the pain from your musculoskeletal injuries. Contact us today and schedule your appointment and let us help you get back to your daily activities devoid of any pain.

Trigger Point Dry Needling | Fusion Physical Therapy

Trigger Point Dry NeedlingThere are certain circumstances where, because of stubborn muscles, pain persists and resists the available treatment plans. In an effort to address this issue, physical therapists now make use of dry needling (DN), a modern practice that’s been quite effective in situations where traditional methods fail.

This relatively new practice is being used by medical specialists to rid their patients of unrelenting pain. While it is comparable to the famous Chinese technique of acupuncture, it has a different philosophy and goal. Trigger point dry needling targets trigger points so as to decrease muscular pain and local inflammation. The technique achieves this by releasing tension and muscle spasm in the stubborn muscles and stimulating the body of the patient to discharge natural pain-blocking and anti-inflammatory chemicals.

Why you should consider trigger point dry needling

At Fusion Physical Therapy, we have highly trained physical therapists with tremendous experience using this method to alleviate the pain within the least time possible. Some of the notable things about this dry needling technique include:

  • It has generated impressive results
  • There is minimal risk
  • Only a short time span is involved
  • The number of treatments varies depending on different individuals and their needs though in most cases only a few treatments are needed.
  • It should only be done by a highly trained and certified expert

At Fusion Physical Therapy we will help you get relief from back pain, headache, migraines, etc. and guarantee a favorable outcome using the DN technique.

Side effects of dry needling

While trigger point dry needling is very effective in alleviating that pain that won’t go away, it does have a few side effects. These include:

  • Minor abrasion
  • Tiredness
  • Trivial bleeding
  • Temporary soreness immediately after the treatment

How we help you

At Fusion Physical Therapy, we ensure that only experienced and well-trained physical therapists perform this technique. Our therapists take all the necessary precautions to ensure that you experience the least possible side effects. They will carry out a thorough evaluation in order to identify the best way forward for your particular situation. Contact us today and schedule an appointment.

You Can Now Be Free from Knee Pain!

Knee PainThe last 20 years have seen the rise of reported cases of knee pain in the United States, with 25% of adults across America experiencing knee pain at some point. Not only does knee pain impede a person’s ability to walk, but it can also be a source of frustration. The good news is that you can effectively eliminate knee pain with the help of exercises and physical therapy. Yes; this is how you avoid becoming part of these statistics! For people who live in Oklahoma, Fusion Physical Therapy in Lawton, Oklahoma has experienced physical therapists that can help you.

Causes of Knee Pain

Whether you are experiencing just some light pain in your knee or the condition has become chronic, there are three main underlying causes:

  • Surgery
  • Injuries
  • Osteoarthritis

Physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy in Lawton, Oklahoma, are highly trained to handle these kinds of cases. They design their treatments  to help you regain your knee’s normal function in the shortest possible time.

Types of Knee Pain

The type of knee pain is determined by the location of the pain in the knee. This list includes:

  • Ligament tear pain
  • Lateral knee pain
  • Anterior knee pain
  • Osteoarthritis knee pain
  • Medial knee pain

All these types of knee pain make it difficult for a person to climb stairs, squat, walk, or do other activities that require them to move their legs.

How Our Physical Therapists Can Help

Physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy in Lawton, Oklahoma will conduct a thorough analysis of your knees to diagnose the real cause of your knee pain. They will evaluate  your symptoms and medical history and use the results of their examination to create a treatment that’s best suited for you. The treatments may include therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, pain management, individualized exercises, and self-care instructions. To help you manage your pain, they may employ pain alleviating techniques that include electrical stimulation, ice, ultrasound, and/or heat. They are designed to reduce swelling and decrease the pain you feel.

Our certified physical therapists have an unending commitment to helping patients regain optimal use of their legs. Go ahead and book your appointment today.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel SyndromeCarpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is quite common and in fact statistics show that in the U.S., one in every 20 people suffers this condition. People with this condition initially experience pain in their wrists and hands however over time, the pain will eventually affect the entire arm.

What causes this pain? The pain occurs when a patient’s tendons and median nerve in their carpal tunnel experience pressure. As the pressure increases in this region, the patient experiences pain, weakness, numbness, and/or tingling in his/her fingers, hand, and wrist.

With the pain sometimes incredibly unbearable, some patients opt for surgery to relieve their pain. The good news is that with Fusion Physical Therapy, you need not undergo surgery. Our physical therapists are specialized in returning patients’ fingers, hands, and arms back to normal.

But what brings about CTS?

Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

While CTS is common among people who spend most of their day in front of  their computers, the condition has an even higher incidence rate among people who work in assembly line-related professions.

The following are the known causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:

  • Using tools that vibrate on your hands, e.g. steering heavy machinery
  • Playing handball and other sports that very much use hands and arms
  • Extended use of fingers, e.g. on a computer’s keyboard
  • Playing the guitar, violin, and other stringed instruments
  • Sewing

Symptoms and signs of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

In its early stages, CTS signs are noticeable at night. However, over time, the signs and symptoms begin to manifest in the daytime.

The signs and symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome include:

  • Burning pains
  • Needle and pin-like pain
  • Numbness in fingers and hands
  • Unexplained weakness in hands
  • Unintentionally losing your grip on things in your hands
  • Difficulty with holding heavy things
  • Tingling

With this understanding of the causes and signs of this condition, let us answer the question: how can the Fusion Physical Therapy experts help? How do physical therapists treat CTS?

How our physical therapists treat CTS

Physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy are certified and licensed. They work in tandem with qualified doctors, accurately diagnosing and treating people suffering from CTS.

Before treatment, our specialists take time to conduct extensive exams that give a clear and full picture of the condition, including its cause and the best way to treat it.

Among other things, the physical therapists conduct a neck examination, sensory tests, wrist flexion tests, electrical studies, x-rays, the strength and grip of a patient’s fingers and thumb, and tinel’s sign tests.

After the extensive evaluation  the physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy will partner with you to create a customized treatment plan to help you alleviate the pain caused by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Contact us today at Fusion Physical Therapy and we will  answer any question you may have regarding Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Women’s Health – Pelvic Pain and Physical Therapy

What is Pelvic Pain?

A person experiencing pelvic pain can often feel the tightness of the pelvic floor muscles. Though the condition is more common among women, men can also be affected and while the pain varies from person to person and it usually gives a burning, sharp, stabbing or aching pain.

What are the Causes of Pelvic Pain?

There are many diseases and conditions that can cause pelvic pain. Some of the causes of pelvic pain include:

  • Pregnancy
  • Childbirth
  • Prolapse-when pelvic floor muschels and ligaments stretch and weaken and no longer are strong enough to support the uterus.
  • Imbalance of the pelvic muscles
  • Weak pelvic floor muscles
  • Pelvic joint tissues

What are the Signs of Pelvic Pain?

There are many signs that appear and indicate the presence of pelvic pain in your body. In order to identify the red flags, you must be aware of them. A red flag is often an indication that you need to visit the therapist.

Some of the red flags, signs, and symptoms of pelvic pain are given below:

  1. Pain during intercourse
  2. Imbalance while walking
  3. Frequent urination
  4. Difficulties in walking
  5. Difficulties in sleeping
  6. Difficult to sit for long hours
  7. Pain while urinating
  8. Numbness in the pelvic region during exercise
  9. Constipation

How Experts can Help?

Physical therapy can help people regardless of age and will help alleviate pelvic pain and restore strength in the affected muscles. The physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy focus on restoring the flexibility of the muscles and joints. Our trained physical therapists will also perform a thorough examination in order to reach the root cause of the pain and determine the best course of action. Once a thorough examination has been performed, the physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy will partner with you to create a customized treatment plan. The customized treatment plan might include:

  • kegel exercises-contracting and relaxing of the pelvic floor muscles
  • manual therapy-massaging or stretching to help with blood circulation, mobility or posture
  • pelvic floor biofeedback-technique that helps the patient see how the pelvic floor muscles are working

Contact us today to speak with one of our trained physical therapists or to book an appointment.

Women’s Health: Physical Therapy Benefits

Women's Health and Physical TherapyThe female body is very different from that of a male body in terms of development however women have very different conditions that affect them daily throughout all phases of life.  These conditions are mostly hormonal and most women experience these conditions during the childbearing phase due to the increased body activity. The condition might occur until a woman reaches menopause or beyond. Many of these conditions are the result of a weak pelvic floor muscle. At Fusion Physical Therapy, we have an experienced women’s health physical therapist that can help you when these common women’s health issues arise.

Common Conditions Women Face

At Fusion Physical Therapy, our trained women’s physical therapist, Jackie Saravane, can effectively help you with some of the common conditions that many women face. If you are experiencing any of the following conditions please contact us:

  • Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain is one of the most common conditions that women experience. The pain can vary from mild to chronic. Jackie Saravane has helped many women with pelvic pain during childbirth.

  • Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence usually affects women after childbirth and in elderly women. The weak pelvic floor muscle has a difficult time controlling the bladder causing urine leakage.

  • Back Pain

Back pain is another common condition that most women experience throughout their daily routines whether at work or at home.

  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse

How We Help You

At Fusion Physical Therapy, our women’s health specialist will meet with you and conduct a thorough examination to understand your symptoms and review your medical history. After the initial examination we will work with you to create a customized treatment plan that may include the following treatments:

  • Exercises including pelvic floor muscle exercises
  • Manual Therapy
  • Biofeedback
  • Prevention Education

Book an appointment with Jackie Saravane today!

Women’s Physical Therapy: Pregnancy

Pregnancy and Physical TherapyOne of the most common conditions that almost 70% of the pregnant women struggle with is lower back pain. The main reason for this lower back pain is lack of alignment as a result of the center of gravity moving forward. As the pregnancy continues and the baby continues to grow in the womb there is some constraint on the mid-back, shoulder, and the entire neck-area. This eventually results in back pain.

Besides, the normal pain in the back and the hip bone, women have complained of some stabbing pains around the abdomen and uterus. There are many changes that occur in the body of a woman during her pregnancy resulting in various parts of her body aching. However, at Fusion Physical Therapy, our experienced and trained women’s health physical therapist can aid you with effective treatments to go through pregnancy successfully.

What really causes stabbing pains around uterus?

  • Round pain ligament – usually occurs during the second trimester
  • Cramping – occurs as the uterus expands
  • Constipation
  • Bloating
  • Gas

Chronic pain could be an indication of something more serious like a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. Nevertheless, there are sharp pains even when you have a normal pregnancy. But if your pain is accompanied by the following you need to see a doctor immediately:

  • Vomiting
  • Heavy bleeding
  • Blood flow
  • Vaginal discharge
  • Chills
  • Fever
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Difficulty in walking

How Do We Help You?

Most of the expectant mothers who visit Fusion Physical Therapy complain of lower back pains and pain around the uterus. Jackie Saravane, our trained women’s health physical therapist, can help with conditions that are caused during and after pregnancy. Jackie will partner with you to create a customized tratement plan that may include one or more of the following treatments:

  • Heat and Ice Treatments which will be used cautiously
  • Stabilization exercises including core muscle training and pelvic floor muscle exercises
  • Therapeutic exercises which tone muscles, reduce fatigue and improve metabolism

If you are seeking quality patient care and would like to relieve pain during and after your pregnancy then call us today to book an appointment!

Women’s Physical Therapy: Stress Incontinence

Stress IncontinenceTo some women, laughing, sneezing, exercising or coughing can be embarrassing due to the result of those functions such as  wet pants due to urethra leakage. Urethra leakage is the condition commonly referred to as stress incontinence or stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

In this day and age, out of every 3 women, 1 of them suffers from Stress urinary incontinence (SUI). However, as the age of women progresses, the condition becomes more prevalent as at least fifty percent of women above the age of 65 suffer from the condition.

The main cause of stress incontinence is weak pelvic floor muscles and fragile abdominal muscles. Increased pressure that is placed on the pelvic floor muscle and bladder can create continence when these muscles are not strong enough to control the continence. This pressure can cause urine to leak out especially during physical activity such as running, engaging in sports, laughing, coughing or sneezing. Our trained physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy will provide quality patient care  to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.

Some of the factors that weaken pelvic floor muscles in women include:

  • Childbirth
  • Illnesses that makes you sneeze or cough frequently
  • Obesity
  • Doing rigorous activities for long like periods of time such as running

There are other risk factors that increase the chances of experiencing stress urinary incontinence, which  include:

  • Age
  • Body weight
  • The type of childbirth delivery method – women who undergo vaginal delivery are likely to develop SUI
  • Pelvic surgery

At Fusion Physical Therapy, we understand the complications that come along with stress incontinence like personal distress, mixed urinary incontinence, and skin rashes.

How Do We Help?

Our trained women’s health physical therapists, Jackie Saravane will meet with you and conduct a thorough evaluation review of current symptoms and medical history. The appointment might consist of a physical examination of your abdominal area as well as urine samples might be taken in order to conduct an urinary stress test. This will help Jackie create  the right treatment plan.  The treatment plan may consist of the following:

  • bladder training
  • pelvic floor muscle exercises like Kegel exercises.

Contact Fusion Physical Therapy today at 580-699-5455 or book an appointment with our women’s health specialist!

Sports Injury and Physical Therapy

Sports Injury and Physical TherapySports injuries usually occur due to the overuse and repeated stress that is placed on the muscle during physical activity.  For example:

  • Tennis players commonly complain of pain in the elbow known as tennis elbow
  • Runners experience pain in their shin and knee, known as runner’s knee. Runners also complain of injuries in their legs, neck and various other muscles.
  • Baseball players have pain in their shoulders

Some people need surgery to fix the above injuries, which generally takes longer to heal . However, surgical operation is not the only option, physical therapy is an effective alternative for effective rehabilitation of injuries. At Fusion Physical Therapy, we have experienced physical therapists who use their training and expertise to provide therapy to help recover from sports injuries effectively.

Common Sport Injuries

Below are a list of a few common sports injuries that the trained physical therapists at Fusion Physical therapy can treat:

  • Runner’s knee
  • Pulled muscle – it’s common to those who don’t do proper warm ups
  • Tennis elbow
  • Ankle sprain
  • Shin splints
  • Shoulder impingement
  • Achilles tendinitis

Most people are used to RICE treatment for the above injuries, which stands for: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. However, at Fusion Physical Therapy, our trained therapists go beyond this and work with you to create a personalized treatment program that is best suited to meet your therapy needs.

By knowing the causes of these injuries, you can be in a position to prevent them from happening. Here are some of the common causes of sports injuries.

Causes of Sports Injuries

  • Poor training
  • Lack of conditioning
  • Repeated heavy exercises
  • Inadequate warm up
  • Using wrong sporting gears
  • Fatigue
  • Overuse

How We Help You

To deal with sport injuries, it is important to seek a physical therapist who will guide you on the Do’s and Don’ts. The physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy will help you rebuild your strength, range of motion and mobility of your body parts after any type of injury.

The experienced physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy are trained to teach you the stretches, techniques, and exercises that will help you recover. The treatment plan will be created after completing a thorough diagnosis of the inflexibility and weakness of your muscles that usually cause injuries. Book an appointment with us today!

Post Operative Physical Therapy Rehabilitation

Post operative physical therapy rehabilitationAn important aspect of physical therapy is the restoration of normal and everyday body function after an injury, surgery or just normal day to day wear and tear. Physical therapists also like to provide education for injury prevention. After surgery your body tissues, muscles and bones need time to heal.

After surgery, many people experience reduced flexibility and functionality in their body because of their limited mobility when they were recovering from surgery. To avoid this reduced flexibility and limitations to normal activity,  post-operative physical therapy is a beneficial and successful treatment plan for post surgery recovery.

Our trained physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy will develop a personalized physical therapy plan for you that will enable you to regain your flexibility and body functionality that will increase the ability to perform normal daily activities pain free.

Adhering to the recommendations and exercises given by the trained physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy will make your recovery faster and effective. The benefits of physical therapy offered at Fusion Physical Therapy include:

  • Restoration of strength
  • Reduction of pain
  • Quick recovery
  • Regain range of motion
  • Minimal scar tissue
  • Return to full function of daily activities

How we Help You

Post operative rehabilitation therapy will help speed up the recovery and healing process no matter what type of operation you underwent.  The certified physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy will partner with you to develop a customized treatment program for a successful and quicker healing and recovery process. In order to regain range of motion and strength and to prevent re-injury during a patient’s recovery process, the treatment plans might include:

  • Flexibility Exercises
  • Muscle Strengthening Exercises
  • Posture Training
  • Ice and Heat Treatments
  • Manual Therapy Techniques
  • Home Exercises

Our therapists will also educate you on ways to prevent injury. Book an appointment with us today to get back to your normal routine activities!

Fibromyalgia

FibromyalgiaThis is perhaps the most common condition that is affecting approximately 5 million people in the United States. Fibromyalgia is very common in women who are between 30 and 50 years old. This condition usually affects the bones and muscles of the patient characterized by fatigue and/or pain in the muscles & joints.

Although there is no determined cure for fibromyalgia, at Fusion Physical Therapy, our trained physical therapists understand your pain, reduce your fatigue, manage your pain, and improve the quality of your life.

Causes of Fibromyalgia

When the nervous system changes the way it manages pain, this condition is likely to occur. However, there are other causes which include:

  • Trauma
  • Chronic stress
  • Depression
  • Infection
  • Surgery
  • Arthritis
  • Anxiety
  • Being abused physically
  • Lack of exercise
  • Hereditary from one generation to another
  • Suffering from PTSD

Signs and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

There are various signs and symptoms that should act as red flags to make you seek medical attention. Some of them include:

  • Insomnia/ sleeplessness
  • Muscle pains
  • Burning, numbness, and twitching in your muscles
  • Fatigue
  • Feeling depressed, nervous, and worried
  • Belly pain
  • Headaches
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Having dry eyes, mouth, and nose
  • Being sensitive to cold, sound, light, heat
  • Bloating

It is good to note that the fibromyalgia has similar symptoms to osteoarthritis and tendinitis but its pain is felt all over the body. So how do we diagnose this condition at Fusion Physical Therapy?

Diagnosis for Fibromyalgia

Since this condition can be easily mistaken and misdiagnosed, our expert physical therapists and other specialists work together to perform a deep examination. This helps them come up with your past health history which helps them administer the appropriate treatment. They usually begin with passive treatments in their plans before administering active treatments meant to strengthen your body.

Our dedicated physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy come up with a plan that incorporates deep tissue massaging to relieve tension and spasms, heat therapy which facilitates blood flow, hydrotherapy, ultrasound, core stability and stretching exercises.

Our therapists will teach you some techniques that will help you deal with fibromyalgia symptoms by yourself. So as to have long-term effects, you should continue with the exercises even at your home. You can silence fibromyalgia today; just book an appointment with us!

Spine Therapy

Spine TherapyBack pains can be very devastating and uncomfortable which make the victim look desperately for relief. Spinal Therapy is designed to reduce inflammation, boost nerve function, and relieve some pressure built in the joints for those suffering from spine-related issues. It has been used by our spine and physical therapists to treat pains associated with neck, shoulder, headache, and back. You can also get the relief by visiting us at Fusion Physical Therapy.

Unlike other physical therapists who give a general routine, our therapists usually create a personalized plan that aims at giving you relief to your back. They have hands-on skills which they use in coming up with the right treatment plan and exercises for you. But what are the common methods used in spine therapy?

What Spine Therapy Involves

Our trained physical therapists deploy force and twisting; spinal manipulation, and spinal mobilization, ice and heat therapy, traction devices, electric stimulation, and ultrasound. In spinal manipulation, they use hands and apply some controlled but sudden force to the specific spinal joint. In spinal mobilization, they use forceful stretching and thrusts. They may use an activator which applies thrusts more forcefully.

How Safe is Spine Therapy?

Spinal mobilization and manipulation have proved to be effective for most patients. Nevertheless, you need to have qualified spine specialists to perform spine therapy effectively and safely. This is where coming to Fusion Physical Therapy is important because our physical therapists are trained and committed to the safety of your health.

If spine therapy is done by non-qualified personnel, it may result in compressed nerves, stroke, and herniated disks. The good news is that we have the specialists you need for your well being. However, there are some people who should not have spine therapy like the ones suffering from:

  • Severe osteoporosis
  • Spinal cancer
  • Stroke
  • Unstable spine
  • Weak limbs
  • Numbness in their arms and legs
  • Tingling in their limbs

What We Can Do

Before our physical therapists prescribe any kind of treatment and exercise, they carry out a thorough examination to determine the specific cause of your back pain. They must be aware of your health history before starting the spine therapy. You can schedule an appointment with us today and experience the relaxation you need.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar FasciitisAccording to statistics, there are over 2 million people in America that suffer from this condition every year and 10% of Americans have it in their lifetime.  Plantar fasciitis is a common condition that can occur to everyone but more common to those who are above 40 years. Plantar fasciitis is basically a condition where one experiences pain at the heel and/or along the arch especially when one exerts weight on the foot.

Sometimes this condition can be chronic that it affects the mobility of the patient; that means they will no longer enjoy their recreation and work. It can be a sad case. At

Fusion Physical Therapy, we understand how distressing it can be when you can no longer walk. That’s why we have our expert physical therapists that ensure you are back on your feet without any surgery.

Causes of Plantar Fasciitis

There are factors that contribute to the tearing and/or inflammation of the plantar fascia which is a thick band of tissues that connect the heel to the ball of your foot. Such factors include:

  • Prolonged standing
  • Weight-bearing activity
  • A sudden increase in length
  • A rapid increase in the levels of activity
  • Age
  • Flat foot
  • High body weight/mass
  • Less flexibility in the calf muscle

Signs and Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis

Before our physical therapists decide the best treatment for you, they carry out a thorough examination to determine the cause of plantar fasciitis. After you discover the following signs, visit us at Lawton Physical Therapy for a more thorough checkup and treatment:

  • Stabbing pain at your heel when:
    • you have prolonged standing
    • climbing stairs
    • doing intense activities after running
    • stepping out of bed
    • walking barefooted
    • in poor shoes that have no good support

The pain sometimes decreases when the temperatures decreases and the victim may limp out of pain.

How We Diagnose

We don’t want you to start or continue limping hence investing trained physical therapists to your health. They are dedicated to carrying out your medical history and evaluation to know the specific cause of your problem. They do palpation, dorsiflexion, stretching exercises, selection of supportive footwear, iontophoresis, taping the foot, and even application of ice.

Besides, they will teach you how to avoid the future occurrence of plantar fasciitis. Book an appointment with us today to start your healing process.

Sports Therapy

Sports InjuryAlthough athletics and general running done by most avid runners are great for the overall wellbeing, sometimes they get injuries in their practices and competitions. This is where you need quick sports therapy done so as you can continue with your activities.

Sometimes the sports injury is complex calling for qualified physical therapists to handle it. At such a point, you need Fusion Physical Therapy to make sure you are back to your sports again.

Our certified physical therapists are dedicated to minimize your discomfort, maximize your performance, and get you back into the game.

What is Sports Therapy?

It is a branch of physical therapy/medicine which focuses on the injuries that are associated with sports especially athletics. Some of the parts of the body that are vulnerable to sport injuries are legs, hands, knees, fingers, and their joints.

Common sports injuries can be handled easily by general practitioners but severe or chronic injuries require trained physical therapists. At Fusion Physical Therapy, we are well stocked with such specialists to ensure your full physical potential is restored. So what causes sports injuries?

Causes of Sports Injuries

By analyzing the cause and the nature of the sports injury, our physical therapists determine the treatment method to use for your wellbeing. Fortunately, we have the equipment and expertise needed to effectively deal with injuries. Most of the sports injuries are caused when:

  • Jumping
  • Running
  • Swimming
  • Lifting heavy weights
  • Jogging
  • Falling like in rugby

Common Sports Injuries

The joints and ligaments are the common spots likely to be injured and may cause a lot of pain that needs a specialist to diagnose. The following injuries are common:

  • Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) damage
  • Knee injuries
  • Concussions
  • Achilles tendon tears
  • Severe and simple fractures

Another condition that has become popular is osteoarthritis caused by low calcium in the body and prolonged & repeated physical activities like running in a marathon.

How We Help You

At Fusion Physical Therapy, our expert physical therapists work closely with you so as to come up with a treatment plan that eliminates any discomfort and facilitates your recovery. They use hydrotherapy and other treatment techniques to ensure you are pain-free. They also educate you on the exercises to do and not to do to avoid sports injuries. Contact us today and your appointment will be scheduled immediately.

Pelvic Pain and Physical Therapy

Pelvic Pain and Physical TherapyPelvic pain is a condition that has become very common among the millennials across the globe especially the ones between the age of 18 and 50. Pelvic pain is usually associated with the tightness of the pelvic floor muscles among other causes. It is felt around the pelvis and genital regions. Many people have been treated of this condition by visiting Fusion Physical Therapy and you can, as well, say goodbye to pelvic pain.

Our expert physical therapists will help in restoring strength to the weak pelvic muscles and flexibility to the rigid joints to ensure you are pain-free. Pelvic pain is felt differently by various people where other feel it like a burning, stabbing, sharp, needles, pins and/or aching pains. But what causes this kind of pain?

Causes of Pelvic Pain

This condition is common in both men and women though it is more prevalent in females. Some of the areas that a patient feels pain are buttocks, hip, pubic bone, pelvis, joints, tailbone, lower abdomen, and lower back. Others feel a heaviness and/or hardness in the pelvic area. Our physical therapists carry out a detailed diagnosis on a patient to get the cause of the pain so as to determine the treatment method. Some of the causes of pelvic pain include:

  • Weak pelvic floor muscles
  • Imbalance of the pelvic muscles
  • Pregnancy
  • Childbirth
  • Pressure on the pelvis nerves
  • A disease
  • Prolapse
  • Pelvic joint issues

Signs and Symptoms of Pelvic Pain

There are some red flags that should make you seek for clarification to a qualified physical therapist to determine whether you’re having pelvic pain. The contact line is always open at Fusion Physical Therapy waiting for your question and/or any other inquiry. Here are the red flags for this condition:

  • Imbalance when walking
  • Pain during intercourse
  • Inability to sit for long hours
  • Difficulties in walking and even sleeping
  • Pain when urinating
  • Increased urination frequency
  • Constipation
  • Pain and/or numbness in the pelvic when bending or doing other exercises

Our Diagnosis

Our friendly, caring and trained physical therapists get an extensive history of your health; carry out a physical examination and tests to determine the cause of your pain and treatment necessary. Some of the treatment administered include biofeedback, therapeutic exercises, electrotherapy, relaxation exercises, manual therapy, postural education, and teach you some lifestyle changes to make. Contact us today and book your appointment to start your journey to freedom.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)Many consider this medical condition as the most painful in the world. Unfortunately, 80,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with this painful condition every year. Previously, CRPS was referred to as Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). What is CRPS? Well, this is a condition that arises when the peripheral and nervous system is injured or malfunction resulting in chronic pain.

This pain can last for weeks, months, and/or years. Nevertheless, if it is not addressed effectively, it can be permanent. There have been multiple treatment options of which physical therapy is the most preferred due to its effectiveness. At Lawton Physical Therapy we ensure your pain is alleviated and help you go back to your normal healthy condition. But what causes Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?

Causes of CRPS

CRPS rotates around the central and peripheral nervous system. Peripheral nerves are responsible for carrying signals from all other parts of the body to and from the brain and spinal cord. Basically, there are 3 major causes of CRPS:

  • An injury like a bone fracture, sprain, cut, burn, needle stick, and surgery among others
  • An infection
  • Having issues with the blood vessels

Our well trained physical therapists will carry out a thorough examination to know precisely the cause of your severe pain. Which signs and symptoms show you may be having CRPS?

Signs and Symptoms of CRPS

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is more frequent in women than in men who are in their 40s especially the one who have hypersensitivity reactions and allergies. Symptoms depend on the stage of an individual and can keep on changing. However, these are the major signs and symptoms:

  • Decrease or increase in sweating
  • Changes on the skin color, temperature, and appearance
  • Extreme pain
  • Osteoporosis
  • Joint stiffness
  • High sensitivity – allodynia – to noise, touch, and vibration
  • Variant hair and nail growth – increase or decrease
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Short span memory
  • Difficulties in speaking
  • Atrophy

How Do We Help You?

At Lawton Physical Therapy, our experienced physical therapists deploy their vast knowledge to ensure your limbs remain functional and flexible while still managing your pain and swellings. They use desensitization therapy, graded motor imagery, mirror box therapy, and Edema massage. If you have CRPS, come for a diagnosis as soon as possible in our facility by booking an appointment (lawtonphysicaltherapy.com/book-an-appointment/). With us you will have started your journey to pain relief.

Tennis Elbow and Physical Therapy

Tennis ElbowAlthough many people associate tennis elbow to the game, only a small percentage of the patients are tennis players. Lateral Epicondylitis, as referred to by medical practitioners, is a common condition that usually occurs when the elbow tendons are overloaded or overworked by having repetitive arm and/or wrist motions.

Over-the-Counter drugs have been used by many to relieve the pain temporarily while others have gone for surgery that has left permanent weakness in their arm. The good news is that you don’t have to go through all these. Our registered and certified physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy are there to stop that pain and give you a permanent solution to tennis elbow. There are symptoms of tennis elbow that should make you visit us.

Symptoms of Tennis Elbow

  • Pain – this maybe around the wrist, elbow, and forearm. You may just feel pain even when you are just doing nothing.
  • Inability to open a doorknob
  • Difficulty when moving your hard
  • A lump or bulging around your elbow
  • Reddish elbow
  • Stiff elbow
  • Swollen elbow
  • General weakness in the wrist, hand, and forearm
  • Difficult to shake hands
  • Difficult to grab an object

Some Risk Factors and Causes

Our trained physical therapists trace the main cause of tennis elbow, is doing any activity that leads to repetitive arm motions. Some of such tasks include:

  • Painting
  • Plumbing
  • Butchering
  • Cutting some materials
  • Repetitive and continuous use of a computer mouse
  • Carpentry
  • Using chain saw repetitively
  • Playing some musical instruments like guitar
  • Risk factors like age, occupation, and certain sports.

How we Diagnose It

At Fusion Physical Therapy, our experienced physical therapists will take you through a physical examination while asking you relevant questions on the cause and symptoms of tennis elbow. While carrying thorough diagnosis, they could be touching various parts of your arm to determine specifically where you are having pain. You should also expect some movements of your wrist or fingers in diverse directions.

If they feel there is more than tennis elbow they may carry out X-rays, MRI or electromyography. Besides, they give you some take-away exercises and pain management strategies to be doing at home before the next visit. Fusion Physical Therapy is with you in every stage of your recovery; contact us today and experience the relief.

Women’s Health: Dyspareunia and Physical Therapy

DyspareuniaDyspareunia is one of the major causes of interpersonal conflicts in marriages that affect approximately 20% of women in the United States. Dyspareunia is a medical condition where there is some recurring pain during intercourse which occurs when there is deep penetration, initial penetration or when there is a lack of lubrication. It may occur before, during or after sexual intercourse.

Painful intercourse usually affects the physical health, body image, relationship, conception and mental health of a woman. It can be a very disturbing condition that needs support and care to the patient. This is what drives our loving and trained physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy when dealing with your case. They are by your side during the entire process until you fully recover.

Symptoms of Dyspareunia

  • Pain during penetration
  • Burning pain during intercourse
  • Deep pain in case there is thrusting
  • Aching pain during intercourse
  • Throbbing pain after intercourse
  • Painful when inserting a finger or tampon

Causes of Dyspareunia

There are various causes of pain in women during intercourse. Here are some of the causes:

  • Lack or inadequate lubrication – this may occur if there is no sufficient foreplay, taking some antidepressants, menopause, childbirth, certain medications etc.
  • Infection and Irritation
  • Inflammation
  • Skin disorder
  • Injury and Trauma
  • Congenital abnormality
  • Vaginismus
  • Previous treatment and surgeries
  • Certain illnesses like uterine prolapse, cystitis, uterine fibroids, endometriosis etc.
  • Previous sexual abuse
  • Psychological issues like stress, anxiety, intimacy fear, physical appearance concerns, depression, and relational problems.

How We Help You

At Fusion Physical Therapy we carry out a thorough medical examination to determine the cause of your pain before administering the treatment program to you. Our certified physical therapists will be there to assess your posture, strength, movements, mobility, and breathing so as to know how you use your body. They will also conduct a visceral examination of the vaginal wall, vulva, and muscles at the pelvic floor to determine their strength, tension, and tightness.

After all the examination and evaluation, our caring physical therapists will give you a take-away treatment program and exercises to follow when at home. To ensure you get the best results, our therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy will do follow-ups. Contact us today and say goodbye to painful intercourse.

Knee Pain and Physical Therapy

Knee PainAlthough knee pain is a treatable problem, many people are still suffering from it across the globe. Basically, your knee consists of 3 parts; the upper part, lower part, and the kneecap. To hold these 3 parts together are strong tendons, cartilages, and ligaments that ensure your knee is stabilized.

Any damage or illness that affects these parts leads to knee pain. You don’t have to go through surgery as various hospitals suggest in a bid to curb your pain. Our outstanding physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy are specifically trained to deal with such conditions without undertaking you through any surgical operations. So when should you visit us?

When to See Us

You don’t have to wait until you start crawling before you visit us, but see us if you:

  • Have some knee swellings
  • Discover some deformity in your knee
  • Can no longer bear your weight
  • Observe some redness on your knee
  • Feel your knee is becoming unstable
  • Have difficulties extending or flexing your knee

There are various symptoms that can give you some red flags that you need to visit Fusion Physical Therapy:

  • Crunching noises
  • Instability
  • Swelling
  • General weakness
  • Stiffness
  • Warmth at the touch
  • Redness
  • Popping noises
  • Inability to straighten the knee

What Causes Knee Pain?

The following are the major causes of knee pain and depending on its cause, the pain intensity differs:

  • Injuries – this usually affects the tendons and ligaments. Common injuries include ACL injury, fractures, knee bursitis, patellar tendinitis, and torn meniscus.
  • Mechanical problems – these may include loose body, dislocation, hip pains, iliotibial band syndrome, and foot pain.
  • Diseases – like arthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Risk Factors

These are some of the factors that put you at risk of having knee pain:

  • Weak muscles
  • Excess weight
  • Muscle inflexibility
  • A previous knee injury
  • Involving yourself in certain sports

What We Do

At Fusion Physical Therapy we use various methods of treatment but the most common is physical therapy. Our qualified physical therapists use diverse techniques to ensure you regain muscle strength, mobility, and normal condition that you had before the injury. This is done after an exclusive examination and diagnosis. They also monitor your condition after visiting us. Contact us today and say goodbye to knee pain.

COPD and Physical Therapy

COPDAround two decades ago in 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a report indicating that Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) was the 5th-leading killer around the globe. If something is not done this life-threatening respiratory problem will be the 3rd-leading killer by 2030. Besides, budget for COPD medical care will also increase drastically having in mind that by 2020 CDC expects $49 billion to be used.

These are some of the things that are keeping us on our toes as Fusion Physical Therapy; to try and reduce the number of deaths and money being used to treat this disease. Our certified physical therapists are working tirelessly alongside pulmonary rehab teams to ensure you recover from COPD. But what causes this disease?

Causes of COPD

The reason why breathing becomes difficult to the COPD patient is because of how it makes the lungs lose their shape and elasticity which makes them inflamed. This makes the windpipe inefficient in taking in and out the air. Here are some causes of this disease:

  • Smoking
  • Pollutants
  • Toxic substances in the air
  • Genetic interactions
  • Respiratory problems

Previously, this disease was only common in older people but it is now affecting children. This disease usually results in very heavy sputum and consistent coughing. No matter your age, our able physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy will ensure you regain your normal health. The disease comes along with other conditions as listed below.

Other health problems related to COPD

  • Asthma
  • Imbalance
  • Weakness on the limbs
  • Depression
  • Lung cancer
  • Hypertension
  • Diabetes
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Osteoporosis

Our Approach

Before you reach the 4th stage of COPD; very severe, you need to visit us when you are at your mild, moderate or severe stage. At Fusion Physical Therapy we undertake you through rigorous evaluation that may include reviewing your history so as to determine the main cause of COPD.

Our trained physical therapists will also review your medications, carry out tests on your lungs, arms, legs, and assess your balance and movement. Our aim is to improve your breathing process, regain quality of life, and help you carry out your daily roles without many complications. We develop a program and design unique exercises that will make you physically active. Contact us today and get your appointment scheduled.

Women’s Health: Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Physical Therapy

Pelvic Organ ProlapseAccording to statistics, a third of females are usually affected by pelvic organ prolapse across the globe in their lifetime. Pelvic organ prolapse can be a very uncomfortable condition in the life of a woman which involves the pelvic organs and pelvic floor.

Pelvic organs like uterus, vagina, bladder, urethra, and rectum are usually held in place by pelvic floor. These organs tend to bulge out when the pelvic floor weakens resulting in pelvic organ prolapse. Qualified physical therapists in our Fusion Physical Therapy can help you strengthen this pelvic floor. So what are some common symptoms of this condition?

Symptoms of Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Although this is an embarrassing condition, our caring physical therapists will stand with you through the period until you recover completely. You should visit us if you notice one of the following:

  • A bulge at the vaginal opening
  • A feeling of pain or pressure in your pelvic area
  • Painful intercourse
  • A severe urge to urinate
  • Constipation
  • Leaking urine
  • Vaginal bleeding
  • Painful low-back

Pelvic Organ Prolapse usually bears its name based on the pelvic organ that prolapses into or outside anus or vaginal canal. So it bears names like:

  • Urethrocele – if it is the urethra
  • Cystocele – if it is the bladder. It is the most common
  • Uterine prolapse – for the uterus
  • Enterocele – for small bowel
  • Vaginal vault prolapse – for vagina
  • Rectocele – if it involves the rectum

Causes of Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Our certified physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy will tell you that anything that increases abdominal pressure can easily lead to this condition. The following can boost abdominal pressure:

  • Obesity
  • Constipation
  • Pregnancy
  • Labor
  • Multiple childbirths
  • Cancer in the pelvic organ
  • Long-term coughing
  • Removal of the uterus through a surgical operation

What Do We Do?

At Fusion Physical Therapy we are committed to ensuring your normal health is regained and you have peace in your physiological life. Our trained physical therapists ensure you don’t undergo hysterectomy or any surgery, unless absolutely necessary.

After thoroughly diagnosing your pelvic area, they offer you the exercises and therapy needed to relieve Pelvic Organ Prolapse symptoms and strengthen your pelvic floor. They also give you take-away exercises that you would be doing while at home like Kegel exercises. Their concern and care make them eager to know your progress often. Contact us today and halt the shame of this disorder.

Benefits of Trigger Point Dry Needling (TrP-DN)

Trigger Point Dry NeedlingAt Fusion Physical Therapy we specialize in Trigger Point Dry Needling (TrP-DN) as an effective way to alleviate painful and tender muscles.

What are trigger points?

Trigger points are knots within a muscle that may cause pain over a large area which may lead to challenges in performing everyday activities. In fact, when one of these trigger points is touched, it is painful and can create pain in other areas close to the initial pain point. The arm and neck are the most common locations for trigger points. This muscle pain and trigger points are sometimes called myofascial pain syndrome.

What is Dry Needling Therapy?

Dry needling is a specialized treatment technique that is invasive and desensitizes and deactivates trigger points by using an acupuncture needle. The needle is a very fine, solid filament needle that doesn’t hurt as it passes through the skin.

What is the Dry Needling Process?

The needle is repeatedly inserted into the trigger point creating a local twitch response in the muscle. This local twitch deactivates the trigger point and confirms the source of pain. This local twitch can be compared to a very mild cramping or aching sensation.

What kinds of ailments and symptoms does Dry Needling treat?

Because muscle problems tend to be a primary and in some cases a secondary contribution in many musculoskeletal conditions, Trigger Point Dry Needling helps treat the following symptoms and ailments:

  • Neck Pain
  • Muscle Tendonitis
  • Headaches
  • Sciatica
  • Rotator Cuff Problems
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Frozen Shoulder
  • Plantar Fasciitis and much more

How can the specialized therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy help me?

  • Improve blood flow
  • Eliminate tension
  • Release tight muscles
  • Reduce pain and healing of chronic muscles, tendons and joint injuries
  • Decrease pain and increase your range of motion

What can I expect at a treatment session at Fusion Physical Therapy?

Each session will take about 30 minutes although it could be more or less time depending on the nature and size of the treatable area. After one treatment your muscles will feel tired and sore as though you just left a chiropractor’s office. The pain can be alleviated with cold and heat ice packs along with stretching.

At Fusion Physical Therapy our certified therapist’s mail goal is to work with you so you can perform your daily activities without pain.  Contact us today by visiting our website at https://lawtonphysicaltherapy.com/book-an-appointment/ or by calling us at 580.699.5455.

Women’s Health: Kegel Exercises

What is a Kegel?

Kegel ExerciseKegel exercises, also known as pelvic floor exercises were named after Dr, Arnold Kegel, who was the first physician to describe the repeated contraction and relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles. The pelvic floor muscles are located at the bottom of the pelvis that go from the pubic bone in front to the tail bone in the back and span side to side across our sit bones. Pelvic floor muscles help prevent bladder and/or bowel leakage.

How do you perform a Kegel exercise?

Identifying the correct muscles to contract and relax is the most important thing about Kegel exercises. Below are a few simple instructions to follow for performing a Kegel exercise:

  1. Stop the stream of urine; this is the basic move of Kegel exercises
    1. don’t start and stop your urination on a regular basis, as that might do harm
  2. Hold and release:
    1. Hold your contractions for two to three seconds and then release
  3. Once you have completed step one and step two correctly, then complete five sets of 10 repetitions per day. The hold and release can happen with regular everyday activities such as while driving your car, sitting at your desk, even while you are standing in line at the grocery store

A few tips to note:

  1. Don’t close your legs together
  2. Don’t squeeze your bottom
  3. Don’t press your stomach outward

What are the benefits of Kegel Exercises?

Below are a few of the main benefits of Kegel Exercises

  • Pleasurable sexual sensations may occur by increasing muscle strength that is involved in helping some women achieve orgasm
  • Reduces pelvic pain or vaginal pain during intercourse
  • Improves urinary incontinence
  • Prevents and treats pelvic organ prolapse

What should I do if I can’t do Kegel Exercises

Whether you experience incontinence, prolapse, pain while having or sex or want to discuss Kegel exercise or pelvic floor dysfunction further, we would love to meet with you. Our women’s health specialist at Fusion Physical Therapy will create a customized treatment plan based on questions asked during your initial exam, as well as an internal exam. Contact us today by visiting our website at https://lawtonphysicaltherapy.com/book-an-appointment/ or by calling us at 580-699-5455.

Opioid Use vs Physical Therapy

Opioids and OpiatesWith over 2 million Americans held under the grip of opioid abuse and over 130 dying daily from the overdose of these drugs, you can conclude that opioids are slowly becoming a national epidemic. Opioid dependency has made many think that it is the only way to deal with pain.

Despite the efforts made by the CDC in releasing a guideline of how to use the drugs, the number of deaths and rates of abuse seem to still be high. With this concern in our hearts, at Lawton Physical Therapy, we use physical therapy to curb your pain and addiction. So, how do you know you’re addicted to opioids?

Signs of Opioid Addiction

If you or your friend is considering taking opioids as a pain reliever, consider physical therapy. The following signs should tell you that it is time to stop opioid use:

  • Fatigue and being sad
  • Overly energetic
  • Losing interest in various activities
  • Rapid mood changes
  • Insomnia or very abnormal wake-up cycles
  • Avoiding chats with your friends and relatives
  • Missing important schedules and appointments
  • Becoming nervous

Signs of Opioid Overdose

An overdose of opioids in a bid to alleviate pain at once can display itself in the following ways:

  • Inability to speak
  • Extreme sleepiness
  • Shallow breathing
  • Low and slow heartbeats
  • Producing gurgling sounds
  • Dark-colored lips
  • Blue-colored skin

How Do we Help You?

Our certified physical therapists at Lawton Physical Therapy ensure they don’t mask your pain by deploying non-opioids approaches. They usually set realistic expectations for your recovery using non-opioid treatment even after visiting our premises.

After carrying thorough examinations and tests, our experts determine the cause of your pain and the treatment method that suits you best. Besides, they give you some of the practices you should be doing to hasten your recovery based on the cause and location of your pain. Some of the common methods we use to silence your pain include:

  • Various physical exercises
  • Sitting posture adjustment
  • Body massages
  • Electrical stimulation

What You Should Do!

If you are one of the estimated 116 million people in the US suffering from acute pain every year, Lawton Physical Therapy is your partner in eliminating that pain without any addiction. Contact us today and begin your journey to your rest.

Pregnancy and Physical Therapy

Pregnancy can create many issues for women. In fact, studies show that approximately 50% to 70% women experience back pain during pregnancy. For many women the pain disappears after pregnancy however more than 33% of the women will continue to experience back pain up to a year after pregnancy. While the baby is growing inside the uterus the pressure causes the center of gravity to move forward and creates a strain on the lower back which is where most women experience the pain. This gravity pull causes a woman to slump forward and creates poor alignment. Over time this pull makes the shoulders begin to roll forward which then creates stress on the neck, mid-back and shoulder.

Pain in the pelvic girdle, hips and lumbar region are most commonly experienced during pregnancy. Sandi Gallagher, PT, of Oregon Health & Science University in Portland states that “In pregnancy, women are more predisposed to these conditions because of the ligamentous laxity that results from hormonal changes, and because a woman’s center of gravity and body mass are changing,” Gallagher further explains. “So, any muscle weakness or joint instability that she had coming into the pregnancy increases her difficulty meeting the increased demands of her body’s changes.”

How is lower back pain treated for women?

At Fusion Physical Therapy we treat lower back pain due to pregnancy with a combination of treatments such as braces, exercise therapy, manual therapy and education. We will work with you by teaching new and proper ways to perform regular daily routine activities that will reduce lower back pain.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggests 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week throughout a pregnancy and should include one or more of the following exercises:

  1. Abdominal strengthening
  2. Aerobic activity
  3. Pelvic floor muscle exercises

What are the benefits of exercising during pregnancy?

Below are just a few of the many benefits of exercising during pregnancy:

  1. Alleviate pain and discomfort during pregnancy
  2. Faster recovery
  3. Reduced pregnancy and labor risks
  4. Lose weight quicker
  5. Babies tend to be healthier

What can I expect at my physical therapy session?

At Fusion Physical Therapy our trained women’s health physical therapist will partner with you to create a customized treatment plan which will help relieve back and pelvic pain during and after pregnancy and may include:

  • Heat and Ice treatment: used cautiously
  • Stabilization exercises that include pelvic floor muscles and core muscles
  • Therapeutic exercise: tones muscles, improves metabolism and decreases fatigue

Contact Fusion Physical Therapy today via phone at 580.699.5455 or online at http://lawtonphysicaltherapy.com.

Women’s Health: Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic Floor DysfunctionDid you know that twenty percent of American women suffer with some form of pelvic pain which is also known as pelvic floor dysfunction?  For many Americans the pain is unidentifiable and goes untreated

What is Pelvic Floor Pain?

There are tissues and muscles in your pelvic area which form a sling that goes from the pubic bone to the tailbone which assists in supporting the pelvic organs as well as the abdominal organs; this is called the pelvic floor. The support from the pelvic floor helps control the bladder, bowels and sexual activity. When these pelvic floor muscles are tight, weak or there is an impairment in the hop joint or lower back, a wide variety of problems can occur.  This irritation or an increased/decreased sensitivity of the tissues surrounding the pelvic organs is what causes the pelvic pain.

What causes Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?

Below are a few causes that causes that could be a result of this dysfunction:

  • Pregnancy or childbirth
  • Infections that are undiagnosed
  • Poor Posture from Chronic Low Back
  • Trauma from a bad fall
  • Insidious onset
  • Surgery

Should I be referred to a Physical Therapist?

If you have one or more of the below symptoms you should consider seeing a Physical Therapist.

  • Disorders of the bladder such as
    • Urinary-Frequency Syndrome: urinary frequency, urgency or hesitancy
    • Interstitial Cystitis: a.k.a. Painful bladder syndrome
    • Urinary Incontinence: a loss of urine from the bladder due to muscle weakness or muscle spasm/tightness
  • Sexual Dysfunctions
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Stomach feeling full which creates abdominal pressure and bloating
  • Pelvic Pain/Dysfunction such as
    • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Infection of reproductive organs with pelvic adhesions or scar tissue formation
    • Pudendal Neuralgia
    • Vaginismus: Muscle Spasms creating an inability to penetrate the vagina
    • Pelvic Congestion
    • Lichens sclerosis and Planus: Skin lesions that are inflamed; narrowing of the vagina may occur with scarring and adhesions
    • Lichens sclerosis: Skin eruption that is chronic; creates lesions that are associated with itching, painful intercourse and burning
  • Coccydynia: Pain found near or in the tailbone area
  • Post-surgical procedures such as hernia, laparoscopy, hysterectomy, appendectomy, caesarean section, episiotomy and prostatectomy

How can Physical Therapy help with treatment?

At Fusion Physical Therapy, our physical therapists will collaborate with you to create a treatment plan customized for you based on your needs. Treatments at Fusion Physical Therapy may include:

  • Trigger Point Dry Needle
  • Deep Tissue Massage
  • Heat and Cold Therapy
  • Soft Tissue Mobilization (External and Internal)
  • Myofascial
  • Connective Tissue Manipulation

Contact Fusion Physical Therapy at https://lawtonphysicaltherapy.com/book-an-appointment/ today to set up an appointment  with our trained physical therapists to create the best treatment plan for you which will allow you to enjoy your daily activities with less pain.

Digital Disabilities and Physical Therapy

Technology and Digital DisabilitiesThe age of technology has great benefits such as the ability to communicate with our family and friends frequently, the ability to receive information quicker and the ability to work more efficiently. However there are also disadvantages of this technology such as the side effects that our bodies experience. As we spend more and more time typing on our keyboards, thumb scrolling, tapping our screens we also begin to experience fatigue in our neck, pain in our thumbs, aches in our forearms and discomfort in our wrists. A new term is trending due to these technology ailments; ever heard of digital disabilities? These include text neck or cell phone elbow.

Text Neck is pain and damage to the neck. This pain is caused from the constant movement of your neck looking down at your tablet, cellphone or other wireless devices for prolonged periods of time. Text neck is rapidly becoming common as the reliance of our wireless devices increases. The longer we keep our heads down from the constant typing, swiping and tapping, the more stress we place on our muscles. The movement of bending the neck to look down happens with other activities besides texting but ithe issues resides with the frequency. Looking down to text, scroll through Facebook or check emails just adds more activity to our spine.

The symptoms of text neck are as follows:

  1. Pain in the Upper Back
  2. Shoulder Pain
  3. Pain down your arm and into your hand

Prevention of text neck:

  1. Keep your phone at eye level.
  2. Put your cellphone down and walk around after 20 or 30 minutes of looking down texting, etc.

Treatment of text neck are as follows:

  1. Increase your core muscles. This will support your upper body, which includes your neck.
  2. Strengthen your neck muscles and increase your neck’s flexibility.

Our trained physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy will partner with you to create a customized physical therapy program that will include core muscle exercises as well as neck strengthening exercises to minimize the strain on your neck.

Cell phone elbow, also known as cubital tunnel syndrome, is another trending term. Cubital Tunnel Syndrome is a common nerve compression syndrome in the upper extremities. This nerve compression may occur when the elbow is flexed for longs period of time, such as speaking on the phone.

The symptoms of cell phone elbow are as follows:

  • Pain/Numbness/Tingling in the small and ring fingers as well as the forearm
  • Fatigue/Weakness in hand creating difficulty in opening jars and various other activities

Prevention of Cell Phone Elbow is as follows:

  1. Use a hands-free headset or hands-free mode on your phone
  2. While talking on the phone switch hands frequently

Treatment of Cell Phone Elbow is as follows:

  1. Manual Therapy
  2. Prescription Medication
  3. Surgery

At Fusion Physical Therapy our customized treatment plan will consist of a variety of treatments including manual therapy exercises and activities. We will also educate you on the proper stretches that will place the least amount of stress on the elbow as well as exercises that strengthen the elbow.

Women’s Health and Physical Therapy

Women's Health and Physical TherapyPelvic pain is becoming more and more discussed among women as well as urinary and/or bowel incontinence. All of these symptoms are a result of pelvic floor dysfunction which is caused by pregnancy, childbirth, surgery, chronic coughing, chronic constipation, trauma as well as aging. At Fusion Physical Therapy our women’s health physical therapist, Jackie Saravane can help!

A women’s health physical therapist can help you alleviate pelvic floor pain as they understand the impact of hormones and how they impact a condition, injury or dysfunction as well as the recovery process. They also realize that each woman is very different and they come with many different concerns that range in ages from young athletes to postmenopausal women. For example, a younger active athletic female requires a very different treatment than a pregnant woman or a woman who has already delivered a baby.

Many young athletic females experience foot, knee and back pain which tends to limit their ability to perform at a high level. I bet you weren’t aware that foot and knee pain can be caused by back pain. This type of problem is identified by our trained women’s health therapist as she has the knowledge and competency to identify these problems and address them which in turn allows you the ability to recover quickly.

Pregnant women and those who have experienced child birth most likely have experienced pelvic pain along with back pain as pregnancy and childbirth place a significant amount of strain on a woman’s body, especially the pelvic floor. Challenging and difficult deliveries can result in pelvic pain, incontinence or even pelvic organ prolapse. Our skilled women’s physical therapist can help by:

  • reducing pelvic and back pain that was caused during pregnancy
  • improving the stability of the pelvis
  • eliminating incontinence and pain
  • preventing the need for surgery or even medication

Jackie Saravane also treats the following symptoms:

  • Bowel Incontinence
  • Constipation
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Lymphedema
  • Osteoporosis
  • Pelvic Pain
  • Urinary Incontinence

Contact Jackie today at 580-699-5455 or visit us at https://lawtonphysicaltherapy.com/book-an-appointment/ to make an appointment with Jackie Saravane, our trained women’s health physical therapist, who will partner with you to create a customized treatment plan.

Sports Injuries and Physical Therapy

Sports InjuryInjuries are common while participating in organized sports, competitions, training exercises, or fitness activities. Poor training methods, not warming-up, lack of conditioning, incorrect gear or equipment, fatigue, overuse and dehydration are a few of the causes of sports injuries. According to the National Institute of Health, the most common sports injuries include sprains, strains, Achilles tendinitis, fractures, knee injuries, rotator cuff injuries, dislocations, swollen muscles and shin splints.

Athletes are involved in a large variety of sports and each sport has its own injury risks, it is critical that each patient be examined based on the particular sport that caused the injury. Such sports like golf, baseball pitching, and tennis use a repetitive motion such as loading, swinging, throwing and a follow through motion. While these sports are different they have the ability to create the same stress on certain body parts.

Physical therapy is one of the best and most common ways to treat a sports injury as it helps rebuild strength and movement. Physical therapy can also help with pain management and prevention in order to lessen the damage and to decrease the chances of reinjury.

At Fusion Physical Therapy, our physical therapist, Jason Dipprey, is trained to help patients recover quickly following an injury. Jason will partner with you to create a customized treatment program which will address your needs. We recommend that you stop playing or exercising if you experience any pain. Injuries take time and the normal healing process follows a pattern of phases. At each phase there is a different treatment program and our physical therapist will accurately diagnose each phase and create a treatment plan based on the appropriate phase of the injury. Also, in order for us to create the best treatment plan for your injury, it is extremely important for us to know how the injury happened, the injured area and the extent of the injury.

The customized treatment program may consist of exercises, stretches, and various techniques using specialized equipment along with teaching you how to perform exercises at home. Many minor injuries can heal with time and by adhering to the P.R.I.C.E. (Protection-Rest-Ice-Compression-Elevation) method. This method allows for healing and recovery to take place while controlling inflammation.

For those with more of a severe injury, treatments may consist of range-of-motion exercises, cold/heat therapy, compression therapy and manual therapy.

At Fusion Physical Therapy our number one priority is to treat your injury as well as provide prevention education. Call us today at 580-699-5455 or make an appointment online by visiting www.lawtonfusion.com/book-an-appointment/.

Women’s Health: Pain While Having Sex – Dyspareunia Treatment

dyspareuniaHave you ever experienced pain while having sex? Then you may suffer from dyspareunia, a recurrent or persistent pain with sexual activity that affects approximately 10% to 20% of women in the United States. This condition can result in a lack of desire for sexual intercourse and damper the relationship a woman has with her partner as sexual intercourse should be associated with pleasure and not pain. When the pelvic muscles in the pelvic floor tighten then Dyspareunia may occur. However, there are women who experience dyspareunia as a result of yeast infections, vaginal dryness or even post-childbirth.

Dyspareunia can be categorized into two types: 1) entry and 2) deep. Entry Dyspareunia occurs when the pain is felt at the entrance of the vagina and deep dyspareunia pain occurs with deep penetration. Dyspareunia tends to have a negative impact on a woman which include negative perception of their body, issues with their relationships, and challenges with their efforts to conceive a baby.

While there are several factors that cause dyspareunia, the five most common causes of dyspareunia are as follows:

  1. Vulvodynia
    1. Burning pain in the vulva that may be continuous or may occur every once in a while. Sometimes it is triggered by touch or pressure, including intercourse or long periods of sitting.
  2. Vaginismus
    1. Pain that occurs when vaginal muscles of the pelvic floor involuntarily or persistently contract when vaginal penetration is attempted. These contractions prevent sexual intercourse and/or make sex painful.
  3. Inadequate Lubrication
  4. Vaginal Atrophy
    1. Thinning, drying and inflammation of the vaginal walls due to a lack of estrogen.
  5. Postpartum Dyspareunia

Physical Therapy is a great treatment option for Dyspareunia. At Fusion Physical Therapy, Jackie Saravane, our physical therapist who specializes in women’s health will create a customized plan that will address all of the facets of the pelvic floor. Her treatment plan may consist of a pelvic physical exam, pelvic floor massage as well as bladder manipulation and retraining. The retraining phase includes teaching you to identify the correct muscle groups and how to consciously relax those muscle.

Contact Jackie today to schedule an appointment via phone at 580-699-5455 or online at https://lawtonphysicaltherapy.com/book-an-appointment.

Migraines and Physical Therapy Options

migrainesMigraines are the 6th most disabling illness in the world and approximately 37 million experience migraines. Every 10 seconds someone is being admitted to the emergency room complaining of head pain. The proper pain relief for headaches and migraines might just be found in physical therapy.

Migraines are a pain that is far more intense that just a bad headache. Migraines are a genetic neurological disorder in the central nervous system which results in the pain and neurological symptoms associated with a migraine headache. Other diseases or disorders such as head injury and brain tumors do not cause migraines. The recurring, severe and throbbing pain usually affects only one side of the head however there are cases where the entire head experiences pain. These painful episodes that affect one side of the head as well as the entire head in some cases are known as migraine attacks and usually last between four and 72 hours.

Unfortunately, migraine attacks are often accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • Visual disturbances
    • Aura is a visual disturbance in which nearly 25% of migraine sufferers experience and it usually lasts less than an hour
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Intense sensitivity to sound, light, touch and smell
  • Extremities or face experience tingling or numbness

Most migraine sufferers have moderate or severe pain and experience 15 migraine days per month. Because the pain of the migraine is intensely painful, most Migraine sufferers and are not able to participate in normal activities.  In fact, most of the time they try to find a quiet, dark room.

Migraine sufferers and the treatment plan varies by person as there really isn’t a cure for migraines. We highly recommend our patients to log things in order to begin to identify the triggers and figure out how to avoid those triggers. We also recommend to our migraine sufferers that they need to manage their stress better, improve their sleep habits by going to bed earlier and modify their diets.

Many headaches are associated with muscle and joint pain while others are caused by sinus issues, tumors and vascular problems. Physical therapy can help treat the headaches that are caused by muscle tension and tightness, disc pathology, lack of neck motion or poor posture.

Since migraines are affected in the central nervous system in which medication is often prescribed. Physical therapy involves treating the muscles and joints which is different for each patient therefore the physical therapy treatment will be differently based on the extent to which muscles and joints are involved in the migraine.

At Fusion Physical Therapy in order to determine the problem areas we will perform an evaluation and will create a customized treatment plan to relieve the pain in those areas. We will use heat and/or ice, soft tissue mobilization, muscular releases, muscle stretches if the pain is in the neck or surrounding areas. We will also spend time with each patient to educate them on posture and body mechanics. Contact us today via phone at 580-699-5455 or online at www.lawtonphysicaltherapy.com/book-an-appointment for quick pain relief.

Interstitial Cystitis

Trigger Point Dry NeedlingPhysical Therapy is now being recommended by physicians for the treatment of interstitial cystitis (IC). Physical therapy is used to help ease IC symptoms and pain. Painful bladder syndrome, aka Interstitial cystitis, is a chronic condition that causes bladder pain, bladder pressure and sometimes pelvic pain. The pain ranges from mild discomfort to severe.

Your bladder stores urine and is a muscular, hollow organ. When the bladder is full most people experience an urgency to pee. This expansion of the bladder signals the brain through the pelvic nerves that it is time to pee. However, with interstitial cystitis the signals get mixed and you feel the need to urinate more often with smaller qualities of urine than most people.

Interstitial cystitis symptoms vary from person to person and over time. Many women claim that the flare up occurs periodically during menstruation, sitting for long periods of time, during stress exercise and even during and after sexual activity. The symptoms and signs may include the following:

  • Chronic pelvic pain
  • Many trips to the restroom to pee but only small amounts of urine trickle out (could be up to 60 times a day)
  • Pain during sexual intercourse
  • A persistent, urgent need to pee
  • Pain or discomfort while the bladder fills and relief after urinating

Interstitial cystitis can create a number of complications such as:

  • Emotional troubles
    • Emotional stress that leads to depression can be the result of uninterrupted sleep and chronic pain associated with interstitial cystitis
  • Reduced bladder capacity
  • The bladder wall stiffens and allows your bladder to hold less urine
  • A lack of sexual intimacy and problems in personal relationships
    • Frequent urination and the pain associated may strain your personal relations, this includes sexual intimacy
  • Reduction in Quality of Life
    • Frequent urination and pain can hinder your social activities, work and other daily life activities

If you suffer from urinary urgency, frequency, and burning but do not have an infection you will have a greater chance of benefiting from physical therapy. During your visit at Fusion Physical Therapy our trained women’s physical therapist will conduct a pelvic floor physical therapy evaluation, which helps to determine if pelvic floor dysfunction is a contributing factor to the interstitial cystitis symptoms. She will work with you to create a custom treatment plan that may include manual techniques, education that reduces anxiety associated with this illness as well as home exercises.

Contact us today at 580-699-5455 or visit us at https://lawtonphysicaltherapy.com/book-an-appointment/ to make an appointment!

Trigger Point Dry Needling in Physical Therapy

Trigger Point Dry NeedlingTrigger Point Dry Needling (TrP-DN), a specialized technique that is creating a buzz in the physical therapy world, is a very effective treatment which reduces soreness and tenderness associated with trigger points. Trigger points are hyperirritable spots in a muscle. Our physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy are trained to effectively treat patients with face, neck, lower back, shoulders, arms, feet and hands utilizing TrP-DN.

What is Dry Needling?

TrP-DN desensitizes and deactivates trigger points in an invasive manner by using an acupuncture needle. In order to manually cause a local twitching response in the muscles, a small, disposable yet sterile solid filament needle is repeatedly inserted into the myofascial trigger point.

Why an Acupuncture Needle?

The needle passes through the skin and therefore a less invasive needle should be used. Since an acupuncture needle is solid and very fine then it doesn’t hurt like o a hollow injection needle does.

What are the benefits of Dry Needling?

  1. Improved blood flow
  2. Releasing of tight muscles
  3. Provides a longer lasting pain relief
  4. Elimination of tension
  5. Immediate relief of symptoms
  6. Increased healing time
  7. Aids in creating pain free range of motion
  8. Reduced pain and healing of:
    1. Chronic Muscles
    2. Tendon and Joint Injuries
  9. Helps with getting you back to exercising and enjoying daily activities

Who benefits from Dry Needling?

Those individuals with sports injuries, chronic pain or overuse injuries will benefit the most from trigger point dry needling.

What conditions are treated by using Dry Needling?

  1. Frozen shoulder, shoulder and arm pain
  2. Headaches and neck pain
  3. TMJ pain
  4. Low back, hip, buttock, quadriceps and hamstring pain
  5. Plantar Fasciitis

How long will each session take?

The amount of time for each session really depends on the size of the treatable area. However, a typical session should last about 30 minutes. There is a strong possibility you may need up to six sessions however results will be experienced in as little as one treatment.

How will I know if Dry Needling is working?

After one treatment your muscle will feel tired and sore as if you had just completed a great workout or too much activity. This might last for one to two days however the pain should be reduced and you should be able to perform your daily activities. The chronic injury should start to improve and a continued reduction in pain should happen after a day or so.

At Fusion Physical Therapy our trained and skilled physical therapists main goal is to help you get back to a pain free range of motion whether that is with trigger point dry needling or various other techniques.

Peezing – Peeing at the Same Time as You Sneeze

PeezingPeeing at the same time as you sneeze is commonly known as peezing.  Peezing often occurs during any type of physical movement such as coughing, jumping, sneezing, or running as these types of activities put pressure on your bladder. Peezing can signify a symptom of stress incontinence and is common among women, especially after childbirth. If you are a peezer, you are not alone.

Urinary incontinence occurs when undesired urine leaks out. Most people who experience urinary incontinence tend to have issues with holding their urine and being able to start peeing. At the bottom of the pelvic bone you will find muscles that are attached and run front to back to form a hammock. This hammock structure lifts to support the internal organs and control the sphincter muscles. The pelvic-floor muscles also help stabilize the pelvic bones, support the lower back and help with sexual function.

There are several different types of urinary continence:

  1. Stress Incontinence
  2. Urge Incontinence
  3. Mixed Incontinence
  4. Functional Incontinence
  5. Urinary Frequency

When the bladder experiences increased pressure and the pelvic-floor muscles are too weak to control or maintain continence, stress incontinence occurs. The urethra is surrounded by the pelvic floor muscles and is to assist in keeping the urethra closed while pressure is being placed on the bladder. Stress incontinence is often the result of pelvic-floor muscle dysfunction and may be a result of following:

  • Post pregnancy and childbirth
    • Pregnancy and labor puts tremendous amount of stress and/or pressure on the bladder which tends to result in trauma to the pelvic-floor muscles
  • Episiotomy (a surgical procedure sometimes used to ease childbirth)
  • Injury or trauma, such as a pelvic fracture
  • Surgery in the vagina or rectum
  • Inflammation, such as cystitis
  • Lack of exercise, or a sedentary lifestyle

At Fusion Physical Therapy, our women’s health specialist, Dr. Jackie Saravave, will partner with you to create a customized treatment plan. Each treatment session includes a detailed evaluation of symptoms and medical history. She will also spend time with you discussing your pain and/or the muscles involved and how Physical Therapy will help you.

Contact Fusion Physical Therapy at 580-699-54544 or visit our website at https://lawtonphysicaltherapy.com/book-an-appointment/ to set up an appointment to meet with Dr. Saravave to create the best treatment plan for you that will allow you to enjoy your daily activities with less peezing.

The Achilles Tendon

One of the most common tendons to rupture is the largest tendon known as the Achilles tendon and stretches from the bones of the heel all the way to your calf muscles. When the Achilles tendon is injured, the pain is mild and creates a burning sensation and is stiff. There are approximately 30,000 people in the United States aging from 30 to 49 who experience a torn or ruptured tendon.

While there are many different type of treatment for the Achilles tendon injury, physical therapy is one of the more successful and common ways to treat any type of Achilles tendon injury. At Fusion Physical Therapy we will create a customized therapy plan that may include the following

  • Strengthening Exercises
    • A customized exercise plan will be created for you that will strengthen the tendon which may have lost strength during the time of healing
  • Stretching Exercises
    • Stretching exercises will also help the tendon heal without causing long term pain
  • Cold Therapy
    • Our therapists may use cold packs and ice massages which decrease blood flow and should decrease pain and swelling
  • Heat Therapy
    • We may also choose to use moist hot packs, heating pads or paraffin to increase blood flow which causes your muscles to relax as well as heals the body tissues
  • Deep Massage
    • A deep massage increases blood circulation and helps the tendons prevent injury in the future

The above are treatments are non-surgical treatments for any type of Achilles tendon injury. If your injury is severe you may require surgical treatment. Physical Therapy will be recommended from your physician after the surgery has occurred. At Fusion Physical Therapy we will partner with you and your physician to create a customized treatment plan which will increase your mobility and get you back to your normal daily activities. Within 3 to 8 weeks after surgery our treatment options would include the following

  • Therapeutic Exercises
  • R.I.C.E. (Protection-Rest-Ice-Compression-Elevation)
    • PRICE controls inflammation while allowing healing and recovery to take place
  • Manual Therapy
  • Trigger Point Dry Needling (TrP-DN)
    • TrP-DN aids to alleviate soreness and tenderness that is associated with trigger points

Contact Fusion Physical Therapy today and one of our trained Physical Therapists will treat your Achilles tendon injury and get you back to normal functioning.

Things to Know About the Pelvic Floor

Pelvic Floor
There are several health issues that a woman deals with that affect the pelvic floor and include urinary incontinence, pelvic pain and bowel problems. Childbirth, chronic constipation, pregnancy, surgery, chronic coughing, trauma and aging a few types of issues women experience which may cause pelvic floor muscle tension, incoordination and weakness. There are many myths about women’s health and we are going to address two of them below.

Myth 1: Kegel exercises will enhance my sex life.
Truth: Kegels can actually make it worse
Many women do not understand the pelvic floor, how it is made up and it’s function. The pelvic floor is comprised of 14 muscles that each have different tightness and weakness. Kegel exercises actually contract and relax the muscles of the pelvic floor.

The most important thing to remember with Kegel’s is to identify the right muscles to contract and relax. Tightening all of your muscles can lead to further problems whereas not tightening them enough or having too much weakness, which is commonly encountered after C-Sections and vaginal births, can create several different problems. There are several pelvic floor dysfunctions such as GI, back pain, vaginal pain, hip, urethra pain, constipation, urinary frequency and incontinence. At Fusion Physical Therapy, our specialized women’s health physical therapist will address any dysfunctions or problems by properly diagnosing which muscles are compromised and partner with you to create a customized treatment plan.

Myth 2: Urinary Incontinence is just a part of getting old.
Truth: Urinary Incontinence generally indicates a larger health issue.
Have you ever coughed, sneezed or laughed and a small amount of urine leaked out? This is called stress incontinence and many joke around and call them “squirts” or “peezing”. Even if you have had kids, the experts say this is not at all normal.

Urinary Incontinence can be one of many symptoms that can lead to other issues that worsen as women get older. The pelvic floor holds your uterus and bladder in place above your vagina. When you start to experience pain in the lower back and elsewhere along with urinary incontinence an alarm will signal that the abdomen and the pelvic floor have been compromised. At Fusion Physical Therapy, our specialized women’s health physical therapist can help treat these symptoms through customized treatment plans that focus on the abdomen, pelvic floor, lower back, diaphragm as well as other areas.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction is not something to overlook and you are never too old to address these issues and correct them before major health issues arise. Contact Fusion Physical Therapy at www.fusionphysicaltherapy.com/contact-us/ today to set up an appointment to meet with our trained women’s health physical therapist and create the best treatment plan for you.

Kegel Exercises

Kegel exercises, also referred to as pelvic floor exercises, consist of a repeated contraction and relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles. Dr. Arnold Kegel was the first physician to describe this contraction and is who Kegel exercises received their name. The pelvic floor muscles support the uterus, bladder, small intestine and rectum and performing Kegel exercises strengthens the pelvic floor muscles.

Are Kegel Exercises hard to perform?

According to the American Journal of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (Bump, et al), a study was published during the early 1990’s in which women were given brief verbal instructions on how to conduct Kegels and their performance was reviewed. The women were then re-tested and the study revealed that only 49% of these women performed the contraction correctly. Even worse is that 25% of the women were performing the Kegel exercises in such a manner as to promote incontinence. Their findings concluded that simple written or verbal instruction is not sufficient when prescribing a Kegel exercise program.

If exercised properly, a muscle will get stronger. However, most women do not perform pelvic muscle contractions adequately or frequently. For example, a woman should not hold the contraction for 10 seconds as this period of time over-exercises the muscle and tends to create muscle soreness, especially for those who experience incontinence or prolapse. Over-exercising a muscle can lead to muscle performance decrease, which means an increase in incontinence, making it worse. On the other hand, some women hinder the muscle from gaining strength by under-exercising the muscles. Learning the correct way to perform pelvic muscle contractions correctly takes time and can be frustrating.

How is a Kegel Exercise Performed?

The most important thing about Kegel exercises is to identify the correct muscles to contract and relax. Follow these steps to perform a Kegel exercise:

  1. While urinating, stop the stream of urine; if accomplished then you have identified the basic move (don’t start and stop your urination on a regular basis, as that might do harm)
  2. Try and hold your contractions for two to three seconds and then release
  3. Once you have completed these two steps correctly, then complete five sets of 10 repetitions per day. These can be done while performing regular everyday activities such as sitting at your desk, driving your car or while standing in line at the grocery store

A few tips to note:

  1. No squeezing the bottom
  2. No pressing your stomach outward.
  3. No closing of the legs together
  4. You should feel a small lifting of the pelvic floor muscles along with a slight tensing or drawing in the lower abdominal muscles

What are the benefits of Kegel Exercises?

  • Increases muscle strength that is involved in pleasurable sexual sensations, helping some women achieve orgasm
  • Reduces pelvic pain or vaginal pain while having sex
  • Improve urinary incontinence
  • Awareness of the pleasurable sexual sensation muscles
  • Prevention and treatment of pelvic organ prolapse

What should I do if I can’t do Kegel Exercises

Whether you can perform Kegels or not and you experience incontinence, prolapse, pain during sexual intercourse or any type of pelvic floor dysfunction, you should visit our trained women’s physical therapist at Lawton Physical Therapy. Our women’s health specialist, Dr. Jackie Saravane, will create a customized treatment plan based on questions asked during your initial exam, a review of your health history and symptoms as well as an internal exam. Contact Dr. Jackie Saravane today at 580-699-5455 or make an appointment online at www.lawtonphysicaltherapy.com/book-an-appointment.

Treating Sport Injuries with Physical Therapy

Injuries are common while participating in organized sports, competitions, training exercises, or fitness activities. Poor training methods, not warming-up, lack of conditioning, incorrect gear or equipment, fatigue, overuse and dehydration are a few of the causes of sports injuries. According to the National Institute of Health, the most common sports injuries include sprains, strains, Achilles tendinitis, fractures, knee injuries, rotator cuff injuries, dislocations, swollen muscles and shin splints.

Athletes are involved in a large variety of sports and each sport has its own injury risks, it is critical that each patient be examined based on the particular sport that caused the injury. Such sports like golf, baseball pitching, and tennis use a repetitive motion such as loading, swinging, throwing and a follow through motion. While these sports are different they have the ability to create the same stress on certain body parts.

Physical therapy is one of the best and most common ways to treat a sports injury as it helps rebuild strength and movement. Physical therapy can also help with pain management and prevention in order to lessen the damage and to decrease the chances of reinjury.

At Fusion Physical Therapy, our physical therapist, Jason Dipprey, is trained to help patients recover quickly following an injury. Jason will partner with you to create a customized treatment program which will address your needs. We recommend that you stop playing or exercising if you experience any pain. Injuries take time and the normal healing process follows a pattern of phases. At each phase there is a different treatment program and our physical therapist will accurately diagnose each phase and create a treatment plan based on the appropriate phase of the injury. Also, in order for us to create the best treatment plan for your injury, it is extremely important for us to know how the injury happened, the injured area and the extent of the injury.

The customized treatment program may consist of exercises, stretches, and various techniques using specialized equipment along with teaching you how to perform exercises at home. Many minor injuries can heal with time and by adhering to the P.R.I.C.E. (Protection-Rest-Ice-Compression-Elevation) method. This method allows for healing and recovery to take place while controlling inflammation.

For those with more of a severe injury, treatments may consist of range-of-motion exercises, cold/heat therapy, compression therapy and manual therapy.

At Fusion Physical Therapy our number one priority is to treat your injury as well as provide prevention education. Call us today at 580-699-5455 or make an appointment online by visiting https://lawtonphysicaltherapy.com/book-an-appointment.php.

Physical Therapy for Pelvic Pain Also Known as Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Did you know that twenty percent of American women suffer with some form of pelvic pain which is also known as pelvic floor dysfunction?  For many Americans the pain is unidentifiable and goes untreated

What is Pelvic Floor Pain?

There are tissues and muscles in your pelvic area which form a sling that goes from the pubic bone to the tailbone which assists in supporting the pelvic organs as well as the abdominal organs; this is called the pelvic floor. The support from the pelvic floor helps control the bladder, bowels and sexual activity. When these pelvic floor muscles are tight, weak or there is an impairment in the hop joint or lower back, a wide variety of problems can occur.  This irritation or an increased/decreased sensitivity of the tissues surrounding the pelvic organs is what causes the pelvic pain.

What causes Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?

Below are a few causes that could be a result of this dysfunction:

  • Pregnancy or childbirth
  • Infections that are undiagnosed
  • Poor Posture from Chronic Low Back
  • Trauma from a bad fall
  • Insidious onset
  • Surgery

Should I be referred to a Physical Therapist?

If you have one or more of the below symptoms you should consider seeing a Physical Therapist.

  • Disorders of the bladder such as
    • Urinary-Frequency Syndrome: urinary frequency, urgency or hesitancy
    • Interstitial Cystitis: a.k.a. Painful bladder syndrome
    • Urinary Incontinence: a loss of urine from the bladder due to muscle weakness or muscle spasm/tightness
  • Sexual Dysfunctions
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Stomach feeling full which creates abdominal pressure and bloating
  • Pelvic Pain/Dysfunction such as
    • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Infection of reproductive organs with pelvic adhesions or scar tissue formation
    • Pudendal Neuralgia
    • Vaginismus: Muscle Spasms creating an inability to penetrate the vagina
    • Pelvic Congestion
    • Lichens sclerosis and Planus: Skin lesions that are inflamed; narrowing of the vagina may occur with scarring and adhesions
    • Lichens sclerosis: Skin eruption that is chronic; creates lesions that are associated with itching, painful intercourse and burning
  • Coccydynia: Pain found near or in the tailbone area
  • Post-surgical procedures such as hernia, laparoscopy, hysterectomy, appendectomy, caesarean section, episiotomy and prostatectomy

How can Physical Therapy help with treatment?

At Fusion Physical Therapy, our physical therapists will collaborate with you to create a treatment plan customized for you based on your needs. Treatments at Fusion Physical Therapy may include:

  • Trigger Point Dry Needle
  • Deep Tissue Massage
  • Heat and Cold Therapy
  • Soft Tissue Mobilization (External and Internal)
  • Myofascial
  • Connective Tissue Manipulation

Contact Fusion Physical Therapy at http://lawtonphysicaltherapy.com today to set up an appointment  with our trained physical therapists to create the best treatment plan for you which will allow you to enjoy your daily activities with less pain.