Anthony T. Goode, PT/ATC, co-owner of ProActive Sports Rehab, recently completed Graston Technique M1-Basic Training and is now treating patients with GT.
Graston Technique is a unique, evidence-based form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables clinicians to effectively and efficiently address soft tissue lesions and fascial restrictions resulting in improved patient outcomes.
“Graston Technique can be used to treat any movement system dysfunction that has been determined to have a soft tissue component,” said Goode.
The technique uses specially-designed stainless steel instruments with unique treatment edges and angles to deliver an effective means of manual therapy. The use of the GT instruments, when combined with appropriate therapeutic exercise, leads to the restoration of pain-free movement and function.
The technique also improves diagnostic treatment, increases patient satisfaction by achieving notably faster and better outcomes, speeds rehabilitation and recovery, reduces the need for anti-inflammatory medication and allows the patient to continue to engage in everyday activities.
Historically, the Graston Technique has had positive outcomes in 75 to 90 percent of all conditions treated. It is equally effective in restoring function to acute and chronic injuries, and pre- and post-surgical patients.
ProActive Sports Rehab, with locations at 4535 Southwestern Blvd., Suites 805 and 806, Hamburg and 1900 Ridge Road, Suite 116, West Seneca, specializes in orthopedic, spinal, neurological and vestibular problems. For more information, please call 648-8700 (Hamburg) or 674-9600 (West Seneca). You can also follow ProActive Sports Rehab on Facebook for frequent updates.
Making a commitment to be physically active is one of the best ways families can prevent or combat obesity and its consequences. Physical therapists support the Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines, which states:
• Children should get one hour or more of physical activity a day.
• Adults should do two hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, or one hour and 15 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity.
The following tips were designed by physical therapists to help families stay active and incorporate physical activities into their daily lives:
• Plan weekend family activities involving physical activity, such as hiking, swimming, bicycling, mini-golf, tennis or bowling.
• Help your child plan physical activities with friends and neighbors, such as skating or softball.
• Have your kids brainstorm a "rainy day" game plan of indoor activities involving fitness video games.
• Remember that your family does not need to join a health club or buy fancy equipment to be active. Walking isn’t costly and it’s easy. So is designing a backyard obstacle course. Weights can be made from soda or detergent bottles filled with sand or water
• Provide positive rewards for your child when he or she engages in physical activities, such as workout clothes, a new basketball or an evening of roller skating.
• Provide positive feedback about your child’s lifestyle changes. Remember not to focus on the scale (for you or your child).
• Be your child’s "exercise buddy." Plan daily walks or bike rides and set goals together for increasing physical activity rather than for losing weight. It’s also great "bonding" time!
• As you schedule your child’s extracurricular activities, remember to plan time for exercise and activity as a priority for the entire family. Don’t just "squeeze it in."
• Encourage children to try individualized sports such as tennis and swimming. Studies show such activities are the basis of lifelong fitness habits.
• Parents and children can do exercises while watching television (or at least during commercials), such as sit-ups, push-ups, or running in place. Discourage snacking or eating meals while watching. — American Physical Therapy Association
ProActive Sports Rehab, with offices in Hamburg and West Seneca, offers one-on-one physical therapy and rehabilitation services. For more information, please call 674-9600 (West Seneca office) or 648-8700 (Hamburg office). You can also follow ProActive Sports Rehab on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProActiveSportsRehab for frequent updates.
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a direct blow to the head, face or neck. In the United States, an estimated 300,000 sports-related concussions occur annually.
In high school gender-comparable sports, girls have a higher concussion rate than boys. Female athletes have also been shown to have a greater recovery time in post-concussion symptoms as compared to males.
Signs of a concussion Concussion symptoms usually appear within minutes of the injury; however, some symptoms may take several hours to occur. Any athlete who has lost consciousness during a sports-related impact should be examined for a concussion or a spine injury. A headache is the most common complaint of an athlete with a concussion. If you suspect your child has suffered a concussion, they may exhibit the following symptoms, which may worsen with stress or activity:
• Loss of consciousness
• Headache
• Feeling in a “fog”
• Difficulty remembering
• Behavioral changes (irritability, rapid changes in mood, exaggerated emotions, aggressiveness, depression, decreased tolerance to stress, etc.)
• Nausea/vomiting
• Difficulty with balance
• Pupils that are enlarged or not equal in size
• Double or blurred vision
• Slurred speech
• Difficulty falling asleep
• Excessive drowsiness
What to do if you suspect a concussion in an athlete:
• Do not allow them to return to any sporting event.
• The athlete should be allowed to rest until there is a resolution of symptoms. This allows the brain to recover. Rest involves allowing time to sleep or take frequent naps. Minimizing distractions, such as television, Internet, reading, or phone use is important.
• It is unnecessary to wake the athlete up every hour. This disturbs sleep patterns, which can interfere with the healing process of the brain.
• The athlete should avoid pain relievers, like aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medications. These may increase the risk of bleeding in the brain.
• The athlete should not be left alone following the injury. Symptoms should be monitored closely. If they worsen, the athlete may need to be evaluated in the emergency room to determine if a more serious brain injury exists. — American Physical Therapy Association
ProActive Sports Rehab, with offices in Hamburg and West Seneca, offers one-on-one physical therapy and rehabilitation services. For more information, please call 674-9600 (West Seneca office) or 648-8700 (Hamburg office). You can also follow ProActive Sports Rehab on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProActiveSportsRehab for frequent updates.
Pitcher’s Elbow, also known as medial epicondyle apophysitis, is a common injury that occurs among young baseball players. Caused by “overuse” and “repetitive motion,” Pitcher’s Elbow causes pain and swelling inside of the elbow and can limit one’s range of motion.
Causes The forceful and repetitive nature of overhand throwing for baseball players (pitchers in particular) can cause inflammation of the growth plate inside the throwing elbow, causing Pitcher’s Elbow. Adolescent baseball players are most likely to experience this injury because their elbow structure (bones, growth plates and ligaments) is not fully mature or developed. The following risk factors contribute to Pitcher’s Elbow:
• Age. Young baseball players (particularly between the ages of 9 and 14) are at greater risk because their elbow joint (bones, growth plates, and ligaments) are not fully developed and are more susceptible to overuse injuries.
• Pitching too many games. The number of games pitched should be carefully monitored and the league’s pitch count rules followed. Research has proven that overuse in baseball contributes to injuries such as Pitcher’s Elbow. If pain occurs before pitch count limit is reached, the player should stop immediately. Rotating pitchers within games is a good idea to ensure adequate rest is given to each pitcher.
• Curveballs and breaking pitches. Both of these types of pitches appear to put more stress on the growth plate than other pitches. These pitches should be limited, especially in players between the ages of 9 and 14.
• Improper mechanics. Improper throwing mechanics can put undue force on the elbow joint. Proper throwing mechanics can help a young player avoid unnecessary injury and develop proper technique that improves their game.
How a physical therapist can help Physical therapists are experts in restoring and improving mobility and motion in people’s lives and eliminating pain. For young baseball players, this means a physical therapist can work with you to help prevent Pitcher’s Elbow from occurring, and recover if it has occurred.
In addition to following the guidelines for pitch counts and recommendations for rest, a physical therapist can help baseball players prevent the occurrence of Pitcher’s Elbow by teaching them stretching and strengthening exercises that are individualized for their specific needs. Everybody is different, which means Pitcher’s Elbow may occur for different reasons for each person. A physical therapist can help a player recover, by designing an individualized treatment plan to regain range of motion, flexibility and strength. — American Physical Therapy Association
ProActive Sports Rehab, with offices in Hamburg and West Seneca, offers one-on-one physical therapy and rehabilitation services. For more information, please call 674-9600 (West Seneca office) or 648-8700 (Hamburg office). You can also follow ProActive Sports Rehab on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProActiveSportsRehab for frequent updates.
Fewer than 25 percent of individuals who suffer a stroke arrive at an emergency room within three hours of symptom onset. But a recent study published in the American Heart Association’s Stroke journal suggests that education can improve an individual’s ability to recognize stroke symptoms to reduce the delay in care.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, and is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in adults. Stroke can happen to anyone at any time — regardless of race, sex or even age — but more women than men have a stroke each year, and African Americans have almost twice the risk of first-ever stroke than whites do.
When someone experiences a stroke, the more time that passes, the more damage occurs in the brain. Emergency treatment with a clot-buster drug called t-PA can help reduce or even eliminate problems from stroke, but it must be given within three hours of when you start having symptoms.
Participants in the study received intensive education, but the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association offer a simple method for detecting signs of a stroke: think “F.A.S.T.”!
F = Face Drooping. Ask the person to smile. Is their smile uneven? Is one side of their face numb?
A = Arm Weakness. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? Is one arm weak or numb?
S = Speech Difficult. Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?
T = Time to call 9-1-1. If you observe any of these signs, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the emergency room. — American Physical Therapy Association
ProActive Sports Rehab, with offices in Hamburg and West Seneca, offers one-on-one physical therapy and rehabilitation services. For more information, please call 674-9600 (West Seneca office) or 648-8700 (Hamburg office). You can also follow ProActive Sports Rehab on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProActiveSportsRehab for frequent updates.
Improper lifting technique can cause neck, shoulder and back pain and possibly even more serious injuries. Learning the proper way to lift will help you minimize the risk of pain and injury.
• Plan ahead before lifting heavy objects. Make sure you have a clear path. This will help you avoid any awkward or sudden movements that can strain your muscles.
• Test an object’s weight before lifting by pushing it with your foot. If it seems too heavy, ask for help.
• Lift with your legs, not with your back. Don’t lean over an object to lift it. Face the object you intend to lift and avoid twisting. Instead, stand close to the object, bend your legs and keep your back straight, then lift.
• Keep feet shoulder-width apart and maintain your balance by distributing the object’s weight equally on both sides of your body.
• If a back injury does occur, seek help from a physical therapist. What starts as a minor back injury can progress to a chronic condition without early intervention.
For more information, please contact ProActive Sports Rehab today! — American Physical Therapy Association
ProActive Sports Rehab, with offices in Hamburg and West Seneca, offers one-on-one physical therapy and rehabilitation services. For more information, please call 674-9600 (West Seneca office) or 648-8700 (Hamburg office). You can also follow ProActive Sports Rehab on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProActiveSportsRehab for frequent updates.
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