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Category: Health Tips

New Age Physical TherapyBlogHealth Tips
Back Pain Physical Therapy
By NewAge Fitness, Health Tips ,

Back Pain and Sciatica Method

Anybody who gets back pain and sciatica kind of pain will have common questions what should i do, what i should not?  Who should I see and can I fix pain by myself?  Should I do flexibility exercises or strengthening exercise?

In most cases patient with severe sciatica kind of pain end up in first med or emergency room.  They might do x-ray and most likely give them pain killers and would advise patient to see either orthopedic or physical therapist depends on their condition.

In any case, you might end up with physical therapy.  Physical therapist role is to centralize your pain, help you to maintain correct posture and do back stabilization exercises. Physical therapist may also use pain modalities to control your pain.

Physical therapists who is trained in McKenzie methods are specialist while treating sciatica kind of pain.  Therapist should be able to do thorough assessment of your problem and see whether you are right candidate for McKenzie technique.

With McKenzie technique therapist will try to centralize radicular pain and then help you to reduce or eliminate pain from back completely.  Mackenzie exercises are done in progression.  Once patient is comfortable with first step of exercise then move to next.

How Do I Know If the Exercise is the Correct One for Me?

If you are experiencing pain on one side of your back or leg, then try the first exercise and monitor symptoms as you exercise. Watch for centralization, which is a decrease in leg or thigh pain and an increase in low back pain.  Centralization that occurs while you are performing an exercise is a good sign and indicates that the particular exercise is the correct one for you to be doing.

If your symptoms worsen, fail to centralize, or only centralize partially, move on to the next exercise in the list. Attempt the exercise, and monitor any changes in your symptoms.  Remember pain that moves closer to your spine is a good sign.  Any sign of more radicular pain or worsening symptoms patient should stop those exercises immediately and speak to their physical therapist.

Also before starting any exercise for your back in severe cases, it is a good idea to check in with your doctor to be sure that exercise is safe for you to do.

  • Prone Lying, Prone Props, and Press Ups

In the case of sudden onset of acute low back pain, you should try the emergency back pain exercises first.  Lie on your stomach for a few minutes, if that is comfortable then prop onto your elbows for a minute or two.  Monitor your symptoms for centralization.  If it centralize continue and you can slowly go on elbows.

If symptoms are improving then and then only, try a few press ups.  Try to keep your hips and back relaxed as you use your arms to press your upper body up.  Try to press up as far as possible to restore the normal forward curve in your low back.  Perform 10 repetitions and monitor your symptoms.

If your pain does not fully centralize with the press up exercise, you may need to see doctor or physical therapist.

Above mentioned exercises first step in McKenzie exercises.  If that has not resolved your problem you need attention for your problem.

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whiplash injury
By NewAge Fitness, Health Tips

Auto Injury & Whiplash Treatment

The most common injury from an auto accident (over 1,000,000 cases per year) is “whiplash” injury.  It happens from the sudden force.  Since there is no outside trauma or injury by the time pain gets worst it takes about 24 hours

  • Why Physical Therapy for Auto Injury Treatment?

Initial medical treatment for motor vehicle accident for neck pain is rest, protection, ice and seek medical help from either primary care physician, orthopedic or neurologist.  They might start patient with pain killers, anti-inflammatory and send them to physical therapy to re-gain range of motion and strength. Regardless of the severity of the injury, you will benefit from a physical therapy program.

  • When Do I Start Treatment for an Auto Accident Injury?

It is highly recommended to begin physical therapy as soon as your physician prescribes or within 1 week.  Treatment will be initiated to control pain and diminish swelling.  Small movements are introduced to begin your tissue’s repair process.  Or Isometrics to prevent loss of muscle strength.

Eventually physical therapist will work on your posture and restoring normal range of motion and strength.

  • Physical Therapy for Auto Accident & Whiplash Injuries

Fortunately for people in bayside queen’s area, New Age Physical Therapy has experience physical therapist who has more than 15 years of experience in orthopedic physical therapy.

Patient will be assigned to one physical therapist and will follow up with that physical therapist who can manage and alter plan as necessary to resolve pain and symptoms as soon as possible.  Physical therapy may include hot packs, electrical stimulation, and isometric exercises, range of motion exercises and later flexibility and strengthening exercises.  Most of physical therapy is done hands on at new age physical therapy with simple exercises which patient can carry out at home on regular basis and which helps them recover faster.

If you are suffering from whiplash injury and if you have any question or concern please feel free to call our office, our experienced physical therapist will help with any question and concern you may have.

Popular Post :

Lower Back Pain
By NewAge Fitness, Health Tips ,

Understanding Back Pain

People who suffer from lower back pain are encouraged to help themselves with exercises and being active and getting skilled physical therapy.  Lot of times patients are not explained in detail what is causing their pain and how to manage them so they can get better faster.

As back pain is very common and most of us experience in our lifetime.  Best way to avoid surgery or get better faster is to perform skilled exercises with help of physical therapist who can tailor exercises depends on type of back pain patient has.

Understanding back pain

There are several structures in the back that can cause and/or contribute to low back pain.

  • Intervertebral Discs

Although the intervertebral disc is a remarkably versatile and strong structure, essentially acting as a shock absorber during everyday activities, sometimes the disc fails when there is a sudden, unexpected force (such as a fall, lifting, or other trauma), or due to ordinary wear and tear over time. And when the disc does get injured it repair itself with fibrous tissue which can also cause pain and patient could hae recurrent back pain.

Activity is also needed to maintain the exchange of fluids in spinal structures and reduce swelling that naturally occurs in the tissues surrounding an injured disc. This swelling can further irritate nerves that are already affected by herniated disc material.  It can be achieved by particular exercises and physical therapy modalities.

These patients are normally complain of radiating, numbness, heaviness kind of pain and also complains of weakness in some leg muscles at times.

  • Spinal Muscles, Ligaments, and Tendons

The collective soft tissues around the spine – the muscles, ligaments and tendons – are also very important in maintaining proper spinal balance and strength. With decreased activity, the connective fibers of ligaments and tendons can begin to adhere to each other and lose resilience and may tear when sudden overload occurs. Unlike discs or connective tissue, however, when soft tissues are injured, they can quickly repair themselves.

Since muscles are in constant communication with the central nervous system, anger or anxiety can tense the muscles and cause muscle spasms. Ongoing tension inhibits normal muscle function and leads to muscle wasting and further stability problems, which in turn can lead to chronic lower back pain.

In this cases normally patient is complain of localized pain.

  • Spinal Nerves

When nerves are cut, pinched, or otherwise irritated, the muscles that the nerves control cannot work or reduce function of muscles. For example, when a herniated or bulging disc presses on the L4-L5 nerve root, it may inhibit the nerve’s ability to make the muscles it controls in the ankle and foot work properly, causing what is known as foot drop – the ability to raise the foot or stand on one’s tiptoes.

Most of these patients are complain of radiation, numbness, burning pain along with weakness in muscles or unable to move muscle.

Above mentioned are few reasons person can have lower back pain or leg pain with or without back pain.  In any case, Patient should consult orthopedic or neurologist if pain is really worst. In other circumstances patient can have consult with physical therapist and see if they can help them.

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By NewAge Fitness, Health Tips

Chronic Pain and Role of Physical Therapy

The amount of people having chronic pain is increasing now a days. A recent NIH study has showed those numbers.  The growing number of people experiencing pain has resulted in an unprecedented growth in prescriptions of diploids and anti-anxiety medications. And, deaths from abuse of these drugs is at an all-time high. By identifying patients at risk of opined and Benzedrine abuse more quickly, and getting them the right care, we can improve the quality of life for millions of people, and, in some cases, save lives. Lot of times going conservative and modifying life style can improve patient’s pain and quality of life.

Chronic Pain

There are many definitions of chronic pain, but one of the most widely accepted is any pain lasting longer than 12 weeks. Having pain for longer than 12 weeks is simply not normal. In contrast, acute pain, that is, pain lasting for a shorter period of time.  Sub-acute pain is when pain is closer to acute but not chronic yet.

Think about the differences between the acute pain and chronic pain, you experience pain while playing soccer twisting your ankle or knee, initial pain is acute pain. Patient now sees doctor who stabilize his/her injury and give necessary prescriptions. In subacute phase patient might be referred to physical therapy to control pain, decrease swelling, and promote healing strengthening and getting back player back in sports.  Now same scenario happens with somebody twisting ankle walking down street and didn’t take care of it thinking it will be better but patient still have lingering pain after three months that is chronic pain.

Certain pain starts suddenly (acutely) and get resolved with time. Unresolved pain can turn into chronic pain.   Over period of time if chronic pain is not taken care of can lead to arthritic changes in that join or can lead to complete disability.  That in turn led to depression other complications.

Patient who has chronic pain tend to get addicted to pain killers. The CDC reports: “Health care providers wrote 259 million prescriptions for painkillers in 2012, enough for every American adult to have a bottle of pills.”

Every year people going to emergency and dying from strong pain killers like OxyContin, Percocet and heroin are increasing and it’s alarming.

Patient should be treated more conservative with physical therapy, psychological counselling and modifying life style which can reduce opioids related deaths from overdose.

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By NewAge Fitness, Health Tips

Understanding Physical Therapy Method

From any aches, pain, joint stiffness or other musculo skeletal problem physical therapist has knack to assess and treat them.  Physical therapist can really understand bio mechanics of your joints and muscles.  You can always see a physical therapist for any of your needs with aches and pain.

First Step— The Assessment

The first step in physical therapy treatment is assessment.  Patient has to be evaluated in detail to understand their problem and underlying causes.  It is very important that they go the root of the problem to treat patient effectively.

Second Step- The treatment Plan

Although patient may come to see physical therapist for many different reason.  It could be neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, ankle pain, therapist has to lay out a treatment plan.  Most of the treatment plans may include Ice, Heat, Electrical stimulation, Ultrasound, Manual therapy, Therapeutic exercises.   Manual therapy is very important part of physical therapy it could be stretching, Soft tissue manipulations, neural mobilization, and joint mobilization.

Third Step- The treatment

Ice

It helps to reduce swelling and temporary relief from pain.  Ice usually applied first 48-72 hours of injury or in some cases even after if it inflammatory condition and swelling is on/off.  Ice helps decreasing swelling by constricting blood vessels.  Therapist will decide whether ice is good for your condition or not after the evaluation.

 Heat

It helps to relieve muscular spasms, tightness and joint stiffness.  Heat helps to reduce pain, spasm and stiffness by dilating blood vessels.  Therapist may use heat to aid other treatment like stretching, joint mobilization.

Electrical Stimulation

There are different kind of current therapist used to treat patient’s pain.  Electrical stimulation helps to relieve pain temporary.  It can be used along with hot/cold packs.  It blocks pain at spinal level by releasing endorphin and encephalin.

Ultrasound

It helps in promoting healing, increase metabolism and improve microcirculation in the area which is being treated.  It is kind of deep heat which penetrates deeper then conventional hot packs and it is very useful modalities for localized pain in conditions like tendinitis, sprains.

Manual Therapy

Working hands on patient cannot be emphasized enough in patient’s physical therapy treatment.  Any orthopedic conditions for which patient is going for physical therapy needs manual physical therapy.  Manual therapy may include stretching, neural mobilization, joint mobilization, joint traction, soft tissue manipulations.  Manual therapy should be part and backbone of any physical therapy treatment.

Therapeutic Exercise

It is very important in any rehabilitation that patient goes through series of exercises to reach their goal.  Range of motion exercises are to restore full range.  Flexibility exercise will be to keep flexibility across particular muscle.  Patient will be given particular exercise to regain strength and it will be tailored to targeted muscle and it will be part of patient’s recovery.

By NewAge Fitness, Health Tips, Weight Loss

What to Look in Your Physical Therapist

At some point in your life – maybe after an injury or surgery, or just after you reach a certain age—there’s a good chance you will find yourself going to physical therapist’s office. And as you look around at the balance balls, ultrasound machines, and other contraptions, and as your body is pushed and pulled in a variety of odd and sometimes even painful ways, you may ask yourself: Does any of this stuff really help?

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At New Age Physical Therapy our therapist will identify your problem and treatment as part of their evaluations, which are backed by solid scientific evidence.   Some of therapy may include:

1. Heat and cold

A hot pack sure feels good on an aching any part of your body. Same for the heat from an ultrasound machine, which can warm tissue deep in your body. And a cold pack on a swollen joint can also feel nice. But none of it will help you recover faster. It makes patients feel good, but it’s not very helpful, but using those things aide in recovery along with other therapeutic exercises and it helps psychologically.

2. Electrical stimulation and ultrasound.

Electrical stimulation and ultrasound could be part of your treatment depends on your diagnosis which helps to relieve pain.

3. Exercise machines after surgery

When patient goes to physical therapy after any surgery they should not be looking place where they have lot of equipment like gym, because after most of the surgery initial goal of therapist is to gain normal movement without any pain or discomfort.  Lot of the times those can be done with simple exercises and precautions.  Patient should look for therapist skill and dedication to their condition and treatment.

4. Changing exercise program

In any physical therapy care therapist needs to change patient’s exercise protocol depends on their needs and it has to be done as frequent as needed.  If you are stuck with same routine you might want to ask your therapist more questions or look for some other place.

5. Manual therapy

It’s very important that wherever you are going for physical therapy they are explaining your problem in detail and plan of treatment.   It is also important that they are using their manual skill to get you better and you are not just using machines.  Manual therapy like stretching, soft tissue massage, neural mobilization, joint mobilization.

6.  Seeing one therapist

It is important that you always seeing one physical therapist so they can track your treatment and modify as needed.

If you have any other question of wants to speak to one of our physical therapist please feel free to call at 718-224-3818.