Physical Therapy

5 Tips to Avoid Chronic Pain

1. Know Pain, Know Gain. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that understanding how our pain systems work is an excellent strategy in managing it. The great news is that you don’t need to know a lot! Simply knowing the basics of how our brain and nerves work, and their role in pain, can help reduce your chance for developing chronic symptoms. Learn more.

2. Keep moving. Gradually and steadily. Living an active, healthy lifestyle not only improves our general well-being and health, but can also reduce our chances of developing chronic pain. Our body was built to move, and we need to understand that not all aches or soreness is cause for concern. Learn more.

3. Spend time with a good PT. If you experience an injury, or develop the onset of pain, seeing a physical therapist (PT) early on can help address and manage your symptoms. PTs are movement experts who can diagnose and treat injuries and help you identify strategies to better manage your pain. The earlier you seek care, the better the chances you have for not developing chronic symptoms. And there’s no reason to wait: you can see a physical therapist without a physician’s referral in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Learn more.

4. Don’t focus on an image. While most of us want a diagnostic image (ie, x-ray, MRI) to tell us “why we hurt,” images actually give us little information about what’s causing pain. A study performed on individuals 60 years or older, who had no symptoms of low back pain, found that more than 90% had a degenerated or bulging disc, 36% had a herniated disc, and 21% had spinal stenosis. What shows up on an image may or may not be related to your symptoms. Once imaging has cleared you of a serious condition, your physical therapist will help guide you back to the life you want to live!

5. Addressing depression and anxiety helps. Your chances of developing chronic pain may be higher if you also are experiencing depression and anxiety. A recent study in the Journal of Pain showed that depression, as well as some of our thoughts about pain prior to total knee replacement, was related to long-term pain following the procedure. Make sure that you talk to your medical provider about your mental health throughout your treatment; it can help make your journey go much more smoothly following an injury or surgery.

The c launched a national campaign to raise awareness about the risks of opioids and the safe alternative of physical therapy for long-term pain management. Learn more at our #ChoosePT page.

Authored by Joseph Brence, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, COMT, DAC

*Complete Article can be found here.

Physical Therapy: A Good First Choice Before Surgery for Meniscal Tears and Knee Osteoarthritis

“Mild meniscal tears and moderate knee osteoarthritis send some people under the knife, when all they really need is physical therapy.

A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found no significant difference between individuals who received surgery and those who received physical therapy alone, thus avoiding the unnecessarily invasive procedure and related costs.

Dr Edward Laskowski, codirector of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center, told Men’s Journal that physical therapy might prove equally effective for other knee injuries, including MCL, PCL, and cartilage tears (Try Physical Therapy Before Surgery – April 29, 2013).

“If you have good range of motion, physical therapy may very well settle down the symptoms over time,” Laskowski said.

Learn about physical therapist treatment of meniscal tears and osteoarthritis of the knee.”

Related Resources:

This article was found at http://www.moveforwardpt.com/DidYouKnow/Detail.aspx?cid=687aa921-ed48-46dd-9b2f-17febb9423ed.

National Physical Therapy Month- #ChoosePT

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October is National Physical Therapy Month and we want to recognize, and thank, all the Physical Therapists that work for our company! We are proud to be the largest privately owned provider of physical therapy throughout Alabama and Mississippi and we love to see our patients succeed through their therapy treatments.

As we recognize all of our wonderful therapists during National Physical Therapy Month, we also want to promote the #ChoosePT campaign. APTA has launched this awareness campaign about the growing toll of the opioid epidemic and has also provided the safety and effectiveness of physical therapy for pain management.

“Physical therapy has been identified as a safe and effective alternative to opioids for long-term pain management and prevention by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Surgeon General. Physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) have a responsibility to understand the full scope of the epidemic and its potential impact on their patients and clients.”

No one wants to live in pain- and we don’t want you to. Choose Physical Therapy for Safe Pain Management. Don’t just mask the pain. Treat it!

Our therapists from the Ocean Springs Neurological Vestibular Rehabilitation Clinic in Mississippi are actively involved with the #ChoosePT movement and want to encourage you to be a part too. #SayNoToOpioids

Fairhope Encore Athlete of the Month, Jaylen Mass.

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Jaylen Mass

Congratulations to the Fairhope Encore Athlete of the Month, Jaylen Mass! Jaylen is a Junior athlete at Fairhope High School in Alabama. He is a Wide Receiver on the Pirates Varsity Football team and wears jersey #16. Jaylen has been on of our patients for 2 months now and has been receiving physical therapy after having ACL reconstruction surgery. He has been quickly recovering and will be back on the football field in no time. We’re proud of you Jaylen! Keep up the good work!

9 Things You Should Know About Pain

1. Pain is output from the brain. While we used to believe that pain originated within the tissues of our body, we now understand that pain does not exist until the brain determines it does. The brain uses a virtual “road map” to direct an output of pain to tissues that it suspects may be in danger. This process acts as a means of communication between the brain and the tissues of the body, to serve as a defense against possible injury or disease.

2. The degree of injury does not always equal the degree of pain. Research has demonstrated that we all experience pain in individual ways. While some of us experience major injuries with little pain, others experience minor injuries with a lot of pain (think of a paper cut).

3. Despite what diagnostic imaging (MRIs, x-rays, CT scans) shows us, the finding may not be the cause of your pain. A study performed on individuals 60 years or older who had no symptoms of low back pain found that 36% had a herniated disc, 21% had spinal stenosis, and more than 90% had a degenerated or bulging disc, upon diagnostic imaging.

4. Psychological factors, such as depression and anxiety, can make your pain worse. Pain can be influenced by many different factors, such as psychological conditions. A recent study in the Journal of Pain showed that psychological variables that existed prior to a total knee replacement were related to a patient’s experience of long-term pain following the operation.

5. Your social environment may influence your perception of pain. Many patients state their pain increases when they are at work or in a stressful situation. Pain messages can be generated when an individual is in an environment or situation that the brain interprets as unsafe. It is a fundamental form of self-protection.

6. Understanding pain through education may reduce your need for care. A large study conducted with military personnel demonstrated that those who were given a 45-minute educational session about pain sought care for low back pain less than their counterparts.

7. Our brains can be tricked into developing pain in prosthetic limbs. Studies have shown that our brains can be tricked into developing a “referred” sensation in a limb that has been amputated, causing a feeling of pain that seems to come from the prosthetic limb – or from the “phantom” limb. The sensation is generated by the association of the brain’s perception of what the body is from birth (whole and complete) and what it currently is (post-amputation).

8. The ability to determine left from right may be altered when you experience pain. Networks within the brain that assist you in determining left from right can be affected when you experience severe pain. If you have been experiencing pain, and have noticed your sense of direction is a bit off, it may be because a “roadmap” within the brain that details a path to each part of the body may be a bit “smudged.” (This is a term we use to describe a part of the brain’s virtual roadmap that isn’t clear. Imagine spilling ink onto part of a roadmap and then trying to use that map to get to your destination.)

9. There is no way of knowing whether you have a high tolerance for pain or not. Science has yet to determine whether we all experience pain in the same way. While some people claim to have a “high tolerance” for pain, there is no accurate way to measure or compare pain tolerance among individuals. While some tools exist to measure how much force you can resist before experiencing pain, it can’t be determined what your pain “feels like.”

Read more about Pain and Chronic Pain Syndromes.

The American Physical Therapy Association launched a national campaign to raise awareness about the risks of opioids and the safe alternative of physical therapy for long-term pain management. Learn more at our #ChoosePT page.

Author: Joseph Brence, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, COMT, DAC

**Article found at: http://www.moveforwardpt.com/Resources/Detail/9-things-you-should-know-about-pain

Winfield Encore Athlete of the Month, Caleb Wilson.

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Congratulations to the Winfield Encore Athlete of the Month, Caleb Wilson! Caleb is a Junior at Winfield City High School and is a member of the Football and Track teams. He has played on the Varsity teams for 3 years now and wears jersey #53. After he graduates from high school, Caleb plans to attend Auburn University and major in Physical Therapy. He is the son of Janice Nichols.

“6 Advantages of Encore Rehabilitation,” written by Andrew Stark from GuideDoc.

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Thanks for writting/rating our company Andrew! Here is his article below.

Encore Rehabilitation Services: An Overview of Encore Rehabilitation Benefits

Encore Rehabilitation is a leading provider of physical therapy and rehabilitation services, featuring dozens of locations in Mississippi and Alabama. The facility employs numerous professionals trained in medicine and physical therapy, providing the utmost standard of care for its patients. If you are in the process of recovering from an injury, there are plenty of advantages to seeking treatment through one of Encore’s locations. This guide will weigh the pros and cons of this treatment facility to help you make an informed decision about your medical care and recovery.

Advantage #1: Specialized Care

The first major advantage to seeking care through Encore Rehabilitation is that they have a variety of professionals with expertise in specific fields. From pain management and sports medicine to women’s health and work rehabilitation, you will find a medical professional who has plenty of experience with your specific reason for seeking treatment. Specificity is crucial to a good recovery since specialized therapists have up-to-date training in all the latest technologies and methods within their specialty. You can rest assured that you will receive the highest quality of care and attention from staff members who take pride in working with the problems you have and helping you reach your recovery goals. Patients have the option to work with professionals in one or more specialties, making Encore Rehabilitation a one-stop shop for physical wellness.

Advantage #2: Varied Services

In addition to basic physical therapy services, Encore also offers a variety of services to help the community. Speech-language pathology, or speech therapy, is provided at local schools so students don’t have to travel to receive services. This type of convenient care is crucial to making rehabilitation accessible to everyone. Even if you can’t go to an Encore Rehabilitation services center, there are still plenty of options available to you. Whether you decide to arrange for a therapist to visit you at your home, workplace, or school, or you choose to seek care in a hospital, Encore works with its patients to ensure that they receive timely and reliable care.

Advantage #3: WorkZone Industrial Rehab

One of the things that truly sets Encore apart from other facilities is its focus on workplace rehabilitation. The WorkZone Industrial Rehab program works with companies to create a safe and productive environment in which employees can thrive. Since so many of the injuries treated by their professionals are job related, the facility recognizes the benefit of preventing problems before they happen. You can even request that Encore visit your business to analyze workplace safety regulations and help improve working conditions for everyone. In addition to working with employers to implement policies that prevent injury, Encore also works with you and other employees to encourage healthy lifestyle choices that can stave off the effects of illness and injury. Preventative care is essential to taking care of your body and saving yourself pain and effort in the long run.

Advantage #4: Sports Medicine Expertise

Many injuries are the result of athletic activities and can be very different from those caused by routine ailments and movement. Encore Rehabilitation recognizes that sports injuries require expert knowledge and specific treatment, and the facility takes a holistic approach to managing recovery through sports therapy. Many injured athletes choose Encore when they want a facility that will focus on getting them back into condition to resume the sports they love. While hospitals frequently treat injuries, there is considerable benefit to working with individuals who understand the difference between routine injuries and sports injuries. Torn rotator cuffs, swollen joints, and ACL issues are frequently associated with sports injuries and require the specialized care and technology that Encore provides to get you back to your full athletic potential.

Advantage #5: Personalized Care

Although Encore is a large company, it operates like a series of small businesses. With numerous locations sprinkled throughout Alabama and Mississippi, Encore is able to keep the ratio of patients-to-providers low. You will receive personalized attention from your assigned healthcare professionals in an environment that has all the benefits of a major company and all the charm and attention of a small business. Healthcare can often feel like an impersonal experience in which you are just another statistic, but the Encore experience is refreshingly different. Your case will be managed by thoughtful professionals who genuinely care about your progress and want to help you reach your full potential. Support is an essential component of the rehabilitation process, and the first step in building a strong support network is working with caring healthcare providers.

Advantage #6: Treatment Length Options

Whether you are looking for long-term treatment or a quick and easy rehabilitation experience to help you get back on your feet, Encore has a variety of options to offer. You can choose between inpatient and outpatient care depending on your needs. If you can take time off from school or work, you may benefit from the extended treatment offered by Encore’s inpatient programs. This allows you to receive care around the clock without interruption, facilitating a fast recovery. On the other hand, if your commitments make it impossible to get away for an extended period of time, Encore will work with you to fit appointments into your busy schedule.

Disadvantage: Limited Locations

In spite of its many advantages, there is one major disadvantage to Encore. The company currently only offers facilities in Alabama and Mississippi. However, due to the superior quality of Encore’s services and the professional excellence of its staff members, many patients choose to make the trip and receive care at one of Encore’s many inpatient facilities. Others travel to an Encore facility and receive outpatient care while staying in the area. Your Encore team will work with you to develop a plan that meets your needs and makes travel as smooth as possible. Encore is able to provide personalized care to each of its patients to develop a treatment program that works with every aspect of their life.

To find a location near you, visit the locations page on our website!

Andrew Stark

Writer

I’m from Portland and write about physical rehabiliation for GuideDoc.com

Fairfield Encore Athlete of the Month, Darrell Thomas.

Congratulations to the Fairfield Encore Athlete of the Month, Darrell Thomas! Darrell is a senior, multi-sport athlete at Midfield High School in Birmingham, AL. He is a member of the Football and Basketball teams, and has played on their Varsity teams for 2 years. You can find him on the football field wearing jersey #5 and on the court wearing jersey #20. After graduation, Darrell plans to attend ASU and major in Physical Therapy. He is the son of Patricia Thomas.

“9 Physical Therapist Tips to Help You Age Well” via Move Forward PT

We can’t stop time. Or can we? The right type and amount of physical activity can help stave off many age-related health problems. Physical therapists, who are movement experts, prescribe physical activity that can help you overcome pain, gain and maintain movement, and preserve your independence—often helping you avoid the need for surgery or long-term use of prescription drugs.

Here are nine things physical therapists want you to know to #AgeWell.

(Download the list in Adobe PDF)

1. Chronic pain doesn’t have to be the boss of you.
Each year 116 million Americans experience chronic pain from arthritis or other conditions, costing billions of dollars in medical treatment, lost work time, and lost wages. Proper exercise, mobility, and pain management techniques can ease pain while moving and at rest, improving your overall quality of life.

2. You can get stronger when you’re older.
Research shows that improvements in strength and physical function are possible in your 60s, 70s, and even 80s and older with an appropriate exercise program. Progressive resistance training, in which muscles are exercised against resistance that gets more difficult as strength improves, has been shown to prevent frailty.

3. You may not need surgery or drugs for low back pain.
Low back pain is often over-treated with surgery and drugs despite a wealth of scientific evidence demonstrating that physical therapy can be an effective alternative—and with much less risk than surgery and long-term use of prescription medications.

4. You can lower your risk of diabetes with exercise.
One in four Americans over the age of 60 has diabetes. Obesity and physical inactivity can put you at risk for this disease. But a regular, appropriate physical activity routine is one of the best ways to prevent—and manage—type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

5. Exercise can help you avoid falls—and keep your independence
About one in three U.S. adults age 65 or older falls each year. More than half of adults over 65 report problems with movement, including walking 1/4 mile, stooping and standing. Group-based exercises led by a physical therapist can improve movement and balance and reduce your risk of falls. It can also reduce your risk of hip fractures (95 percent of which are caused by falls).

6. Your bones want you to exercise.
Osteoporosis or weak bones affects more than half of Americans over the age of 54. Exercises that keep you on your feet, like walking, jogging, or dancing, and exercises using resistance, such as weightlifting, can improve bone strength or reduce bone loss.

7. Your heart wants you to exercise.
Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the US. One of the top ways of preventing it and other cardiovascular diseases? Exercise! Research shows that if you already have heart disease, appropriate exercise can improve your health.

8. Your brain wants you to exercise.
People who are physically active—even later in life—are less likely to develop memory problems or Alzheimer’s disease, a condition which affects more than 40% of people over the age of 85.

9. You don’t “just have to live with” bladder leakage.
More than 13 million women and men in the US have bladder leakage. Don’t spend years relying on pads or rushing to the bathroom. Seek help from a physical therapist.

*This article was taken from the Move Forward PT website and can be found at this link: http://www.moveforwardpt.com/Resources/Detail/9-physical-therapist-tips-to-help-you-agewell

Ocean Springs Spine and Orthopedic Clinic Patient of the Month, Kathy Slaten.

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Congratulations to the Ocean Springs Spine and Orthopedic Clinic Patient of the Month, Kathy Slaten! Kathy is a native of Ocean Springs, MS and has been receiving physical therapy at our clinic on her lower back. Before physical therapy, Kathy wasn’t able to live the active lifestyle she was used to, and couldn’t perform household duties such as cooking, laundry, or cleaning. One of Kathy’s friends came along side her and recommended she try physical therapy under our DPT, Valerie Sullivan. Kathy has now been with us for 4 weeks and says her back is stronger, has increased mobility, and says she is almost pain free!

“I was ignorant of what physical therapy could do for me, but I am certainly a believer now and would recommend Encore to anyone! I could not be more impressed!”

– Kathy