Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of neurological disorders. It is caused by damage to the immature, developing brain, usually before birth. CP can have a broad range of effects. People with CP may have trouble seeing, hearing, feeling, thinking, or communicating. Difficulties can range from mild to severe. CP also typically affects movement, muscle coordination, and balance. This can result in problems moving and walking, abnormal muscle tone, exaggerated reflexes, and involuntary movements. There is no cure for CP, but early treatment can help.
Physical therapy is one of the most important forms of treatment for children with CP. PT can help children improve their movement skills, stay active, and perform daily tasks. PT can also help prevent movement problems from getting worse over time and reduce physical discomfort. Let’s look at a few of the ways PT can be helpful:
Take Advantage of Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity is the ability of the neurons and neural networks in the brain to form new connections and change their behavior. This can help the brain to adapt or “train” other areas to take over the function that the damaged part was intended to do. Neuroplasticity is highest during the first few years of life, when the brain is still developing and forming new connections. This means that early intervention PT can have a greater impact on the brain’s ability to reorganize and learn new skills.
Early PT can help children with CP enhance neuroplasticity by providing exercises and activities that stimulate and challenge their brain and nervous system. This could involve playing with children in different positions that challenge their balance and stability, encouraging the use of affected limbs, or using different forms of sensory stimulation.
Improve Motor Skills and Function
Children with CP often have difficulty with motor skills and function due to muscle spasticity, weakness, or stiffness.
PT helps children with CP improve their motor skills and function by providing exercises and activities that target the large muscles in the arms, legs, and abdomen. For example, a physical therapist may use strength training, stretching, or balance training to improve the child’s muscle tone, range of motion, and stability. For young children, a PT might also use functional training techniques like crawling, climbing, walking, or propelling a wheelchair to improve the child’s mobility and independence.
Prevent or Delay Secondary Complications
Secondary complications are problems caused or are worsened by the primary diagnosis of CP. These can include muscle atrophy, loss of range of motion, muscle spasticity, pain, joint inflammation, and contractures. Secondary complications affect the child’s daily function, health status, and quality of life.
PT can help children with CP prevent or delay secondary complications by providing exercises and activities that maintain or improve their physical health and functioning. Examples include massage or stretching to relax and lengthen the muscles, positioning devices to improve posture, or braces, splints, or orthotics to support and align the affected joints.
Increase Quality of Life and Well-being
Movement limitations and environmental barriers can affect the self-esteem, confidence, and social relationships of children who have CP.
PT can improve the quality of life and well-being of children with CP by providing exercises and activities that are tailored to their individual needs and goals. Adaptive equipment such as wheelchairs, crutches, or bicycles can help the child access their community and enjoy recreational activities. A physical therapist will also work with the child’s family and other professionals to provide education and support for the child’s overall health and development.
Conclusion
Early physical therapy is a vital form of treatment for children with cerebral palsy. It can help them take advantage of neuroplasticity, improve motor skills and function, prevent or delay secondary complications, and increase their quality of life and well-being. PT can help kids with CP be as independent, comfortable, and healthy as possible.
If you are looking for an early intervention physical therapist for your child with cerebral palsy, you can visit Choose PT to find one near you.
References
1. Physical Therapy for Cerebral Palsy – Improving Mobility. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cerebralpalsyguide.com/treatment/physical-therapy/
2. Physical Therapy for Children with CP. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cerebralpalsy.org/about-cerebral-palsy/treatment/therapy/physical-therapy
3. Cerebral palsy – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cerebral-palsy/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354005
4. Cerebral Palsy and Physical Therapy. (2022, April 28). Retrieved from https://www.cerebralpalsyguidance.com/cerebral-palsy/treatment/physical-therapy
5. Therapy has long-lasting benefits for children with cerebral palsy. (2021, November 9). Retrieved from https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/therapy-has-long-lasting-benefits-children-cerebral-palsy
6. Early Intervention for Cerebral Palsy: Examples & What to Do. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.flintrehab.com/cerebral-palsy-early-intervention/
7. Morgan, C., Fetters, L., Adde, L., Badawi, N., Bancale, A., Boyd, R. N., Chorna, O., Cioni, G., Damiano, D. L., Darrah, J., de Vries, L. S., Dusing, S., Einspieler, C., Eliasson, A.-C., Ferriero, D., Fehlings, D., Forssberg, H., Gordon, A. M., Greaves, S., Guzzetta, A., … Novak, I. (2021). Early Intervention for Children Aged 0 to 2 Years With or at High Risk of Cerebral Palsy: International Clinical Practice Guideline Based on Systematic Reviews. JAMA Pediatrics, 175(8), 846–858. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.0878
8. Therapy for Cerebral Palsy | Early Intervention | CerebralPalsy.org. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cerebralpalsy.org/about-cerebral-palsy/treatment/therapy
9. Early Intervention and the Importance of Early Identification of Cerebral Palsy – Physiopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.physio-pedia.com/Early_Intervention_and_the_Importance_of_Early_Identification_of_Cerebral_Palsy
10. Cerebral Palsy Early Intervention. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://cprn.org/cerebral-palsy-early-intervention/
How Physical Therapy Helps People with Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement, balance, posture, and coordination. It can also cause non-motor symptoms such as pain, fatigue, mood changes and cognitive impairment. While there is no cure for PD, there are treatments that can help manage the symptoms and improve the quality of life of people living with PD.
Physical therapy is one of these treatments. PT can help restore or maintain physical function, mobility, and independence. Physical therapists are trained professionals who can assess, diagnose, and treat movement problems related to PD. They can also provide education, advice, and support to people with PD and their caregivers.
Benefits of Physical Therapy for People with PD
Physical therapy can help people with PD in many ways, such as:
Improving muscle strength and endurance. Both age and PD can weaken and decondition muscles. A physical therapist will prescribe exercises using light weights or resistance bands to improve strength. More strength helps with balance and mobility.
Enhancing amplitude of movement. PD can cause people to reduce the size and speed of movements. This can affect walking, speech, facial expressions, and gestures. Physical therapy can help increase the amplitude of movement by teaching overexaggerated physical movements, such as high steps and arm swings. This is a way to retrain the muscles and brain to compensate for the reduced movement that Parkinson’s can cause. The LSVT BIG program is a specific set of exercises and activities that has been shown to improve mobility and quality of life.
Reinforcing reciprocal patterns. Reciprocal movements are side-to-side and left-to-right patterns, such as swinging your arms while taking steps as you walk. PD can affect these patterns, which makes walking slow and unstable. Physical therapy can help to reinforce reciprocal patterns by using machines like a recumbent bicycle or elliptical machine. Practicing walking with arm swings is another activity that can help restore reciprocal movements. This can improve coordination, rhythm, and fluidity of movement for people with Parkinson’s. Dance and tai chi are other activities that involve reciprocal patterns.
Improving balance and posture. PD commonly impairs balance. Your brain uses a complex mix of what you see, your inner ear and sensations from your feet and joints to maintain balance. Physical therapy can help to improve balance using exercises that challenge stability, such as standing on one leg or walking on uneven surfaces. PT will also focus on specific components of the balance system by doing things like having a person close their eyes to focus on the sensations from the feet and joints. Physical therapy can also improve posture by correcting any muscle tightness or weakness that may cause stooping or learning sideways.
Increasing flexibility and range of motion. PD also often causes muscle stiffness and rigidity. Physical therapy can help increase flexibility and range of motion with stretching exercises that target specific muscles. Common areas of issue are the hip flexors, hamstrings, and calves. Stretching regularly can also help to reduce pain and spasm.
Providing education and self-management advice. Physical therapy can help people learn more about PD and how it affects their movement. A physical therapist can provide tips on how to maintain safety when exercising, how to cope with fatigue or pain, how to use assistive devices if needed, and how to prevent or manage complications such as falls or freezing.
Sounds Great. Is There Proof?
Yes. Research backs up all these claims. One meta-study (a study that combines the results of many other studies) that covered 1827 participants found that when compared to no intervention, PT significantly improved:
• gait speed
• two- and six-minute walk test scores
• Freezing of Gait questionnaire
• the Timed Up & Go test
• Functional Reach Test
• and the Berg Balance Scale
These results indicate improvements in mobility, endurance, strength, and balance. Gait speed is an especially important measurement. Physical therapists often consider gait speed a “vital sign.” This is because low gait speed has been linked to:
• declines in functional mobility
• higher rates of hospitalization
• higher fall rates
• cognitive decline
• increased disability
• and higher risk of death
A larger meta study that included 191 studies with 7998 participants found that PT significantly improved motor symptoms, gait, and quality of life. Specifically:
• Resistance and treadmill training improved gait.
• Strategy training improved balance and gait.
• Dance, Nordic walking, balance and gait training, and martial arts improved motor symptoms, balance, and gait.
Conclusion
Physical therapy is a valuable treatment option for people with PD, as it can help to improve or maintain their physical function, mobility, and independence. Physical therapy can also enhance their quality of life, confidence, and well-being. If you have PD or know someone who does, consult with a physical therapist who specializes in PD to see how they can help you.
References
(1) Physical Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease – Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/physical-therapy-for-parkinsons-disease.
(2) Physical Therapy and PD | Parkinson’s Foundation. https://www.parkinson.org/library/fact-sheets/physical-therapy.
(3) Physical and Occupational Therapy for Parkinson’s: What to Expect. https://bing.com/search?q=physical+therapy+for+parkinson%27s+disease.
(4) Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Physical Therapy. https://www.parkinsonsdaily.com/parkinsons-disease-treatment-physical-therapy/.
(5) Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapies | Parkinson’s Foundation. https://www.parkinson.org/living-with-parkinsons/treatment/physical-occupational-speech-therapies.
(6) Physiotherapy in Parkinson’s Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Present Treatment Modalities – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32917125/
(7) Physiotherapy versus placebo or no intervention in Parkinson’s disease – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24018704/
Movement is Medicine: Physical Therapy and Arthritis
May is National Arthritis Month. Arthritis may seem relatively benign – everyone knows someone who has arthritis. But here are some numbers that help put the problem of arthritis into perspective:
• Arthritis is the leading cause of disability.
• Arthritis affects 1 in 5 adults and 300,000 children
• 1/3 of working-age people with arthritis have some kind of limitation in their ability to work
• Arthritis costs $156 billion each year in medical expenses and lost wages
• Nearly 1 million hospitalizations happen each year due to arthritis
It’s a serious condition, and a serious problem. The good news is that physical therapy is one of the most effective treatments for arthritis.
The Benefits of Physical Therapy for Managing Arthritis Symptoms
Arthritis comes in 2 forms: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs because of wear and tear on the joints over time. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory, autoimmune disease. It occurs because of the immune system attacking the joint lining. Physical therapy can reduce joint pain, improve mobility, and help to prevent further damage to the joints. Using individualized exercises, physical therapists help people manage their condition and reduce discomfort. Physical therapists often combine advice on lifestyle modifications with exercise to maximize improvement. Let’s look at the types of exercise that can help manage arthritis symptoms next.
Range of Motion Exercises
These gently move affected joints through their entire range of motion. This can help reduce stiffness and improve mobility. Examples would include things like gentle stretching, tai chi, or gentle yoga.
Aerobic Exercise
Aerobic exercise creates repeated motion, moving the synovial fluid in the joints. It also increases blood flow and releases endorphins which reduce pain. Aerobic exercise also helps to control weight. Weight loss is proven to reduce the stress on your joints, which can reduce pain. Aerobic exercise for people with arthritis should be low impact. This would include things like walking, cycling, or swimming.
Strength Training
Strength training is an important part of managing arthritis. It decreases pain, improves strength, and function. Stronger muscles around the affected joints provide better support and protection.
Aquatic Exercise
Exercising in a therapeutic pool can be a great way for people with arthritis to get started. The buoyancy of the water helps to relieve some of the body’s pressure on the joints. The water pressure also provides compression on the joints. This offers some stability and pain relief. The movement of your body through the water creates resistance for your muscles. This allows them to get stronger in a protective environment.
Education
Besides designing a custom exercise program, a physical therapist will educate people with arthritis on lifestyle modifications to help mange their symptoms. Some suggestions might include weight loss, getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and managing stress. A PT can also modify daily activities to help protect joints affected by arthritis. This can slow down or prevent progression of symptoms.
Physical therapy is a safe and effective treatment for arthritis. Current clinical guidelines for treating arthritis include strong recommendations for exercise and other physical therapy treatments. If you’re one of the 53 million Americans with arthritis, give your PT a call. They’re a great provider to help you reduce pain, manage your symptoms, and move better.
References:
1) Research (peer-reviewed)
a) Knee osteoarthritis: key treatments and implications for physical therapy- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1413355520302434
b) Osteoarthritis Management: Updated Guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology and Arthritis Foundation – https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2021/0115/p120.html
c) Physical therapy for patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis: supervised, active treatment is current best practice – https://sport-physiotherapie-halle41.ch/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/9-Physical-therapy-for-patients-with-knee-and-hip-osteoarthritis-2019.pdf
2) Articles and Content
a) May Is National Arthritis Awareness Month – News
b) Benefits of Exercise for Osteoarthritis | Arthritis FoundationHow Can Physical Therapy Help to Avoid Surgery? – Tucson Orthopaedic Institute
Physical Therapists Help Active People Live Better
Physical therapy has lots of benefits for active people. Athletes, performers, weekend warriors, and people who work in physically demanding jobs can all benefit from the expertise of a physical therapist. Here are 3 ways physical therapists help active people stay that way.
Injury Treatment
Active people get hurt. Physical therapists have the knowledge and skills to help people recover from injuries faster. In addition to helping people recover, physical therapists will look for the root cause of the injury and address that as well, to help keep the injury from coming back. If the injury is severe and requires surgery, a physical therapist will guide the recovery and make sure the person gets back to their activity. But in some cases, a physical therapist can help an injured person avoid surgery in the first place.
Injury Prevention
Surgery isn’t the only thing physical therapists can help people avoid. A physical therapist can also help with injury prevention too. A thorough assessment of an athlete’s strength, mobility, balance, and coordination helps to identify issues that could lead to injury. A PT can then design a program to improve the problem areas before they lead to injury. A PT can also assess an existing training plan and help to identify areas that may lead to sprains, strains, or overtraining.
Improve Performance
In addition to helping people improve areas where they’re weak, therapists can help people get better in areas of strength. A physical therapist can create a program to improve strength, flexibility, coordination, agility or speed. Physical therapists are movement experts. They can break down the requirements of a specific physical task like lifting or throwing, then design a training program that will help people meet those demands.
Physical Therapy is more than just a way to get back on your feet after an injury – it can also help you stay at the top of your game. Whether you’re an athlete, a dancer, or someone who wants to stay in shape, physical therapy can help you reach your performance goals. With the right exercises and treatments, physical therapists can help you improve strength, flexibility, and endurance so that you can perform at your best and lower your risk of injury.
References:
1) Research (peer-reviewed)
a) What we currently do for sports – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31077961/
b) Sports injury prevention – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35421834/
c) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34238639/
2) Articles and Content
a) https://www.idsportsmed.com/7-benefits-of-sports-physical-therapy/
b) https://www.childrens.com/amp/health-wellness/how-physical-therapy-helps-athletes-and-what-to-expect
c) How Can Physical Therapy Help to Avoid Surgery? – Tucson Orthopaedic Institute
Have You Scheduled Your 2023 PT Exam?
Haven’t thought about having an annual PT exam? We’re biased, but we think you should. You see your optometrist and dentist regularly because your eyes and teeth are important. You get an annual physical from your family physician. You might even be getting ready to see your accountant to get your yearly taxes done.
But what about the rest of your body? Have you lost range of motion, or strength? How’s your balance and coordination? These all affect how you move. You might not notice small changes until you have problems like trouble lifting a heavy load, joint pain, or a sprained ankle from a stumble. An annual PT exam can catch problems early, then correct them before they lead to something bigger.
What to Expect
An annual PT exam is quick and easy. Your annual visit may include:
● A history of your injuries, as well as a health history
● Assessment of your strength, balance, flexibility, etc.
● A review of your movement goals (do you want to run a marathon? Get on and off the floor easily playing with your grandkids?)
● A review and update of your exercise program
How Important Is Moving Well?
There is strong evidence suggesting that movement is a valuable predictor of future health and resilience against disease. Moving well can keep you healthier and help you live longer. Here are some examples of the power of movement when it comes to predicting future health:
Gait Velocity
Gait velocity is how fast you walk. Studies have shown that if your typical walking speed is over 1 m/s or 3.3 ft/s, you’re likely able to complete typical daily activities independently. You’re also less likely to be hospitalized and less likely to have adverse events like falls.
Get On and Off the Floor
A series of studies suggest that if you can go from standing to sitting on the floor and back to standing without using your hands, you’re a lot less likely to die than someone who can’t. It’s called the sitting-rising test. You can find the instructions and examples with a quick internet search.
Notice that both gait velocity and the sitting-rising test aren’t specific to any one thing. The risk of hospitalization in the gait velocity studies was hospitalization for any reason. Death in the sitting-rising studies was death from anything. So science says that moving well is incredibly important to your overall health. It’s also important for your quality of life. We think moving well is just as important as your teeth, eyes, and taxes. If you agree, get that annual PT exam scheduled!
References
Why provide an annual physical therapy visit – https://www.apta.org/patient-care/interventions/annual-checkup
Physical Therapists’ Role in Prevention, Wellness, Fitness, Health Promotion, and Management of Disease and Disability – https://www.apta.org/apta-and-you/leadership-and-governance/policies/pt-role-advocacy
Ability to sit and rise from the floor is closely correlated with all-cause mortality risk — ScienceDaily
Gait velocity as a single predictor of adverse events in healthy seniors aged 75 years and older – PubMed (nih.gov)
A Physical Therapy Holiday Survival Guide
Keeping up with physical therapy during the holidays is tough. There are so many other things to do – cooking, parties, shopping, travel, and visiting with family and friends. But if you’re in physical therapy over the holidays, there’s a reason. You’re having pain, or not moving as well as you want to. These issues place limitations on your life, which are going to affect your ability to do things – like cooking, partying, shopping, traveling, or enjoying time with friends and family. So even though keeping up with your PT this time of year is tough, it’s important. That’s why we’re going to give you our best tips to help you through the holidays.
Plan
Some of what makes the holidays challenging is the crazy schedule. To survive this, you’re going to have to plan ahead. We’re not just talking about appointments on your calendar, either (although those are important). Here are some things to think about planning ahead:
Your PT appointments
Your schedule is busy during the holidays. So is your PT’s. Plan and schedule your appointments in advance. You’ll get the times and days that work best for you, and you’ll already have your PT appointments in your calendar to plan other things around.
Your exercise
Hopefully you have a regular time to exercise. With the holiday mania about to shake up your routine, that time may no longer work. Think about when you’re going to exercise ahead of time and you’ll stay consistent.
Your diet
Healthy eating often gets derailed during the holidays. Putting low quality fuel into your body won’t help you feel better. Think about planning what you’re going to eat ahead of time. We’re not saying to skip every holiday treat offered to you, but maybe think about which ones you really need to have, and which ones you can skip in advance. It makes saying “no thanks” to that third slice of fruitcake easier.
Modify
We’re realistic. We understand that life isn’t the same during the holidays as it is during the rest of the year. That’s part of what makes this time of year special! With that in mind, our next set of tips focuses on making modifications to help you get through the holidays successfully.
Your PT Plan
When you planned your PT appointments out well in advance, you might have run into some challenges. Talk to your therapist about how you might be able to modify your plan of care through the holidays to make it all work. Maybe you’re going to PT three times a week and you can only come twice a week for a week or two. Plan this sort of thing in advance with your PT and you can work together to come up with the best plan.
Your exercise
Exercise is so important, it made our list twice. Now that you know when you’ll exercise, you might have to modify your routine to make it fit. Again, we recommend talking with your PT to see what you can do. Maybe your home exercise program can be modified so you can do everything in the kitchen during downtime when you’re cooking up your holiday feast. Maybe you can reduce the number of exercises to focus on maintaining the gains you’ve made until things settle down.
Your schedule
In your planning in advance (see how important it is?) you might have found that your normal routine wasn’t going to work. If your PT appointments or exercise time is usually right after work and you’ve now got commitments during that time, maybe you can move them to the morning before work. If you’ve been exercising outside, the shortened days may move you into the gym. Be flexible and consider temporarily modifying your schedule and your routine to make it work better during the holiday season. You can always go back to your previous routine after.
The holidays are a special time of year. Keeping up with your health and your physical therapy can be challenging during this time. But you don’t have to fall behind. With some planning and flexibility, you can stay healthy, survive the holidays and head into next year with good momentum!
Physical Therapy Is For Everyone!
Physical therapists are highly trained health care professionals. They are experts in human movement who are trained to evaluate and treat all kinds of musculoskeletal issues with exercise and other techniques. Everyone moves and everyone can benefit from exercise, so physical therapists can help people through their entire lives!
Physical Therapy for Children
Physical therapists start treating some people very shortly after birth. Common reasons a baby might need PT include torticollis and cerebral palsy. Torticollis is a postural issue caused by a tight neck muscle. Babies with torticollis hold their heads tipped to one side. Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that causes difficulty with movement and coordination.
As children get older, some have trouble hitting their motor milestones – think of these as the “firsts” – sitting up, rolling over, crawling, standing, and walking. Physical therapists can help here too, using their expertise to help develop motor skills and coordination to get these children back on track.
Physical Therapy for Adolescents
In adolescents, sports injuries become more common. Whether it’s an ankle sprain, or an ACL surgery, a PT can help. The rapid growth in adolescents can cause issues too. Things like growth plate fractures, growing pains, Osgood-Schlatter’s disease, and Sever’s disease are all common in adolescence and are related to the changes the body is going through.
Physical Therapy for Adults
As adults, a lot of us will have back pain – studies say up to 80% of us. Physical therapy is one of the first treatments recommended for back pain. Physical therapists also see adults for injuries – maybe from weekend warrior type sports injuries, overuse, or from an accident at work. Some adults also start to show symptoms of diseases like multiple sclerosis, or myositis which also benefit from physical therapy.
Physical Therapy for Older Adults
Later in life, people tend to have more health issues that impact their ability to move. Things like arthritis, joint replacements, strokes, and heart attacks are all things a PT can help with. Physical therapists also help people age better – keeping them moving with exercise programs that help reduce falls, or helping them make adaptations and modifications to keep them in their homes safely.
Movement is a constant in life. As movement experts, PTs can help people of any age. Some specialize in treating pediatric patients, and some specialize in treating geriatric patients, but all PTs have the expertise to help people move better.
References
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/facts.html
PT for pediatric ataxia – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31392562/
Adult in workplace – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32270086/
Adult myopathy (an example of something treated for adults, not geriatrics necessarily) – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31115788/
The Role of a Physical Therapist in Healthy Aging – https://www.ncoa.org/article/the-role-of-a-physical-therapist-in-healthy-aging
How Physical Therapists Can View Normal Versus Abnormal Aging – https://www.foxrehab.org/pt-impact-older-adults-optimal-function/
Don’t Keep Injury Secrets!
Physical therapists are experts in dealing with injuries, but your PT can’t help if they don’t know about your injury!
You might be wondering who would keep an injury secret. The answer is – lots of people!
The first thing that comes to your mind might be an athlete, like a football player, or maybe a baseball pitcher. But athletes aren’t the only ones that keep injury secrets. Performers like dancers keep injury secrets, and so do workers in all types of jobs.
Why would anyone want to keep their injury secret instead of getting it treated and letting it heal? Read on…
Stigma
Although there have been big improvements in the culture around sports, performing arts, and worker’s comp, some people still have the old “no pain, no gain” attitude. To some people, reporting an injury is an act of weakness, or a way of letting the team down.
There can also be external pressure from coaches, parents, teammates, supervisors, or fans to keep playing or working.
Fear of Loss
With the focus on head injuries in recent years, athletes that get hit in the head know if they report concussion symptoms, they’re coming out of the game. Workers who get hurt on the job fear loss of pay, or loss of their job. Performers who get hurt might fear that their replacement will outshine them on the stage and take their place.
Competitive Advantage
While the first two reasons can apply to athletes, performers, workers and most any other group that might be hiding an injury, this one is limited to athletes. If an opposing team knows a player is injured, and what the injury is, they might be able to take advantage of it. For example, if a football team has a running quarterback that has an ankle injury, it will change how the opposing defense plays.
These reasons all make some sense, but they’re also all shortsighted. Finishing a game, dancing tomorrow night, or working one more shift are never worth your long term health. Hiding a minor injury can turn it into a major one. It’s never weak to report an injury and you’re not letting your teammates, or coworkers down. If you’re not up to your best, you owe it to the people counting on you to let them know. Letting a healthy player, performer, or worker take your place is the right thing to do. If you’re injured, don’t hide it! Let the right people know, then go to the right person for help – your physical therapist!
What Physical Therapy Can Do For Arthritis
Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the joints. It can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling. The hips, knees, hands, and spine are the most commonly affected joints. Arthritis is not a single disease but an umbrella term that includes a variety of different types. Some of the more common examples are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
While physical therapy might not be the first treatment you think of for arthritis, it probably should be. A lot of people with arthritis choose to use medication to manage their pain, stop activities that hurt, and wait for things to get bad enough to have a joint replacement. But this isn’t a great plan – all medications have side effects, even over the counter ones. Reducing activity leads to muscle atrophy and even stiffer joints. Even though joint replacement surgery usually has good outcomes, it does come with its own set of risks and a painful recovery.
Physical therapy has been extensively researched as a treatment for arthritis, and demonstrates good outcomes. Physical therapists typically start with exercise as the base for arthritis treatment. Exercise helps to regain lost joint motion, decrease feelings of stiffness, and strengthen muscles surrounding the affected joint. These benefits are all somewhat obvious. What surprises many people is that exercise has been shown to be as effective as medication for pain relief in many types of arthritis, without the side effects.
Physical therapy has more to offer people with arthritis than just exercise though. Education helps people understand their condition, what to expect, and how to manage it. As experts in human movement, physical therapists are especially good at helping people modify the way they perform certain tasks or activities to reduce strain on joints affected by arthritis. They can also suggest ways to modify the environment at work or home to reduce pain and improve function. They may also suggest things like braces, orthotics, or other devices that can help maintain mobility and reduce pain. On top of all of that, PT has been proven to be a cost effective treatment, too.
With so many techniques that are proven effective in helping people with arthritis, physical therapy is a recommended first line treatment for many types of arthritis. Now that you have a better understanding of what PT can do, hopefully you’ll think of PT first when you think of arthritis too.
References:
1. Research (peer-reviewed)
a. PT for juvenile RA – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1946625/
b. PT for hip and knee OA – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33034560/
c. Systematic Review for Juvenile RA – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28729171/
2. Articles and Content
a. Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Physical Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis- https://www.rheumatology.org/About-Us/Newsroom/Press-Releases/ID/718
b. Can physical therapy reduce arthritis pain? – https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/physical-therapy-for-arthritis
Fibromyalgia – What to Do When the Fibro Ignites
As we head into the dog days of summer, the weather is heating up. For the nearly 5 million people in the United States with Fibromyalgia, they might experience a different kind of heat – the burning pain that typically comes along with this diagnosis.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that can cause a wide range of symptoms throughout the body. It’s usually diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 50, and 80% to 90% of the people affected are women.
The most common symptoms are:
● chronic pain all over the body
● fatigue
● memory problems
● sleep disturbances
● depression or anxiety.
How Does Physical Therapy Help?
Because of the wide range of symptoms, fibromyalgia can be a debilitating condition. It is not uncommon for people to begin avoiding activities altogether because of pain and fatigue. This begins a cycle of deconditioning that not only impacts the person’s overall health, but also makes the symptoms of fibromyalgia worse. The cause of fibromyalgia is currently unknown and there is no cure, so physical therapy treatments are designed to reduce and manage the symptoms. This requires a multi-pronged approach. Common treatments include:
Education
The first step in treating fibromyalgia is often helping people understand what’s going on, and what they can do about it. Research has shown that people who are knowledgeable about their condition have better outcomes, more confidence, and cope better.
Decrease Pain and Improve Range of Motion
Physical therapists are movement experts with a lot of tools and techniques to help with the pain and stiffness caused by fibromyalgia. A PT might use gentle manual therapy or massage, prescribe specific stretches, or a simple yoga routine. They might also use modalities like electrical stimulation, biofeedback or in states where it is allowed, dry needling.
Exercise
Once patients understand the condition and are able to move a little better with less pain, exercise often enters the treatment picture. Research has shown that low to moderate intensity aerobic exercise like walking, biking, or swimming is important in managing fibromyalgia symptoms. It can help with pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, and more. Physical therapists and patients work together to find the right type of exercise and the right intensity to best manage fibromyalgia. They often have to start slow, and make adjustments along the way.
Each physical therapy session is tailored to the needs of the patient and will vary depending on the severity of their symptoms. Despite there still being no cure for fibromyalgia, physical therapists can help with pain management, strength, mobility, fatigue and function to help patients find relief from their symptoms.
References:
1. Research (peer-reviewed)
a. Exercises for Fibro – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32455853/
b. Manual therapy for fibro – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32604939/
c. Aquatic PT for fibro – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23818412/
d. Effectiveness of exercise with fatigue, etc for fibro – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32721388/
e. Aerobic exercise for fibro – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28636204/
2. Articles and Content
a. https://www.choosept.com/guide/physical-therapy-guide-fibromyalgia
b. https://www.everydayhealth.com/fibromyalgia/aquatic-therapies/
c. Physical Therapists are poised to treat and manage Pain (AOPT) https://www.orthopt.org/uploads/content_files/files/Pain_Manual_Draft_FINAL_6.25.2021%281%29.pdf
