by jsurdej | Sep 4, 2017 | Physical Therapy News
A recent systematic review concluded that arthroscopic surgery for degenerative knee disease (including arthritis and meniscal tears) did not result in lasting pain relief or improved function. As a result, panelists strongly recommend against arthroscopy for patients with degenerative knee disease.
The review (Arthroscopic surgery for degenerative knee arthritis and meniscal tears: a clinical practice guideline- May 2017) was published in BMJ.
According to the review, about 25 percent of people older than 50 years of age experience pain from degenerative knee disease (the percentage rises with age), and costs for arthroscopies for this condition are in excess of $3 billion per year in the United States. Furthermore, only 15 percent of arthroscopy patients reported a small or very small improvement in pain or function at three months post surgery, and those benefits were not sustained at one year post surgery.
In place of arthroscopy, panelists recommend effective alternatives including an individualized regimen combining rest, weight loss as needed, a variety of treatments provided by a physical therapist, exercise and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
In an interview with the New York Times, Dr. Reed A.C. Siemieniuk, a methodologist at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and chairman of the panel, said, “Arthroscopic surgery has a role, but not for arthritis and meniscal tears.” The procedure, he elaborated, “became popular before there were studies to show that it works, and we now have high-quality evidence showing that it doesn’t work.”
— 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.
by jsurdej | Aug 28, 2017 | Physical Therapy News
The end of summer is a good time to re-establish healthy habits and back-to-school routines. In addition to dental checkups and annual physicals, pediatric medical specialists recommend adding a scoliosis screening to back-to-school checklists.
What is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis, a musculoskeletal disorder that causes an abnormal curvature of the spine or backbone, is the most common deformity of the spine, affecting an estimated six to nine million people in the United States. Although 10 percent of adolescents may have the condition, not all will need care. Early detection, however, can be key to successful treatment.
“Because most causes are unknown, it’s best to find the condition as early as possible to provide the best possible outcome,” explained Amer Samdani, M.D., chief of surgery for Shriners Hospitals for Children — Philadelphia.
Signs and Symptoms
Children and teens with scoliosis rarely exhibit symptoms and sometimes the condition is not obvious until the curvature of the spine becomes severe. Some markers to watch for in a child who has scoliosis are:
• Clothes not fitting correctly or hems not hanging evenly.
• Uneven shoulders, shoulder blades, ribs, hips or waist.
• Entire body leaning to one side.
• Appearance or texture of ribs sticking up on one side when bending forward.
• Head not properly centered over the body.
Diagnosis and Treatment
When confirming a diagnosis of scoliosis, a doctor will review your child’s medical history, conduct a full examination, and discuss treatment with you and your child.
According to Dr. Samdani, there’s no one-size-fits-all treatment for scoliosis.
“Some cases will just need to be watched; others will need physical therapy, bracing or surgical procedures to stop the curve from progressing,” he said. “At Shriners Hospitals, we offer the whole spectrum of treatments under one roof. We also treat children regardless of the families’ ability to pay, so that often provides a huge relief to parents.”
Learn More
For more information on scoliosis screenings, care and treatment, visit www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/scoliosis.
— NAPS
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.
by jsurdej | Aug 21, 2017 | Physical Therapy News
Fortunately, you can fight back just by doing these four easy things:
1. Wash your hands. If you can avoid getting sick in the first place, you’ve denied germs an entire body to grow in. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with plain soap and water after touching surfaces like doorknobs, keyboards, utensils and anything else that other people may have used. Exercise some healthy caution when it comes to what you touch and use alcohol-based sanitizer when soap and water aren’t available. When you prepare foods such as meat, dairy products and even fruits and vegetables, make sure to wash your hands with soap and water and clean any surfaces your food has come in contact with.
2. Get vaccinated. Prevention is the best medicine, and one of the best things you can do is protect yourself with a vaccine. Vaccines work differently than antibiotics. Instead of trying to kill an existing infection, a vaccine trains your healthy body to fight the disease in the future. Children can especially benefit from being vaccinated because they haven’t had time to build up their own immunities. Make sure your vaccinations are up to date.
3. If you are sick, stay home. Stay away from people as much as you can when you are sick and keep your germs to yourself. Keep the bathroom clean along with other shared surfaces in your home to avoid spreading germs to others.
4. Take antibiotics as directed by your healthcare provider. Antibiotics are only effective in treating bacterial infections, not viruses. Before taking antibiotics, talk to your healthcare provider about whether antibiotics are the best treatment option. Remember that misuse and overuse of antibiotics can lead to resistance, meaning that the strongest bacteria survive and antibiotics become less effective on them or sometimes don’t work at all.
Find more information at canada.ca/antibiotics.
— News Canada
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.
by jsurdej | Aug 14, 2017 | Physical Therapy News
With an aging population and continued projected increases for age-related cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, these findings give hope that older adults can help delay the onset of cognitive decline.
The study provided 6,400 people aged 65 years and older with an activity tracker for a week, and assessed their cognitive abilities during tasks. After three years, people who performed moderate-to-vigorous levels of physical activity were significantly less likely to experience cognitive problems than those who were sedentary or did light physical activity.
Other studies have shown that receiving physical therapy first for low back pain lowers costs, including basic education from a physical therapist prior to back surgery, and in instances when advanced imaging has been prescribed.
As movement experts, physical therapists can design exercise programs for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease to include keeping them active and independent for as long as possible.
— 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.
by jsurdej | Aug 7, 2017 | Physical Therapy News
Aging at home is a viable option for many seniors. According to a recent survey, nearly 90 percent of seniors want to “age in place.” Here are some reasons why the choice has many psychological and health advantages for seniors and any loved ones who care for them.
1. Keep up a normal routine. Living at home allows the freedom to maintain independence longer and stay engaged with normal daily activities, including regular interaction and companionship with family and community.
2. Receive individualized care. Making adjustments to one’s daily life can be very stressful and upsetting for seniors. But those who choose to age in place often just need to put supports in place, such as home modifications and personalized home care with customized services based on preferences and needs.
3. Family members aren’t overwhelmed. Home care is usually provided by home health aides, licensed caregivers, nurses, or friends and family. Sharing the caregiver responsibility is integral in preventing caregiver fatigue and offers your loved one companionship when you are not able to be there.
4. Lower risk of illness. In addition to improving quality of life, home care often helps extend life by eliminating stressors associated with aging in a senior care facility. In-home care can reduce the risk of catching illnesses such as colds and flus, which spread quickly in a seniors’ facility. Home care can also speed up recovery, as a familiar environment is best for healing both mind and body.
5. Balancing everyone’s needs. With care and support in their own home, seniors can maintain their independence and lifestyle while the family has peace of mind knowing they are safe and being well cared for.
Find more information at www.bayshore.ca.
— News Canada
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.
by jsurdej | Jul 31, 2017 | Physical Therapy News
Summers are hotter than ever before, with recent research showing a significant increase in the number of extreme heat events across the country. While we love spending time outdoors in the summer, a fun day under the sun can quickly turn dangerous if you don’t take a few precautions.
Here are some tips from Health Canada that will help you learn the signs of heat illnesses and what to do about them.
Know the symptoms. Heat illnesses include heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat fainting, heat edema (swelling of hands, feet and ankles), heat rash and muscle cramps. Symptoms of heat illness are dizziness or fainting, nausea or vomiting, headache, rapid breathing and heartbeat, extreme thirst and decreased urination with unusually dark yellow urine.
Know what to do. If you experience any of these symptoms during extreme heat, immediately move to a cool place, such as a shaded area, and drink liquids — water is best. Immediate action is needed to minimize the possibility of developing heat stroke.
Don’t be afraid to get help. Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition and a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately if you are caring for someone who has a high body temperature and is either unconscious or confused or who has stopped sweating. While waiting for help, cool the person right away by moving them to a cool place, applying cold water to large areas of the skin or clothing and fanning them as much as possible.
Understand your risk. While extreme heat can affect everyone, the risks are greatest for older adults, infants and young children, people with chronic illnesses or on certain medications, people who work in the heat, people who exercise in the heat, and homeless people and low-income earners who may have less access to cool places. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are at increased risk, and check in on neighbors and others who may be vulnerable.
Practice prevention. Some easy ways to stay cool are to drink plenty of liquids — especially water — before you feel thirsty, plan outdoor activities during cooler hours, and wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing made of breathable fabric. Take a break from the heat by spending a few hours in a cool place, like a tree-shaded area, community center, shopping mall or public library.
— News Canada
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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