Blog: Physical Therapy & Chiropractic

Diabetes mellitus is a worldwide health problem characterized by the body’s inability to break down sugar due to an inefficiency of the hormone insulin.
November is considered Diabetes month in America in an effort to raise awareness about a condition that has a powerful impact on families and communities across the world. According to the American Diabetes Association, the toll of diabetes is significant if left unchecked.
1. Two out of three people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke.
2. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure.
3. Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults.
4. The rate of amputation for people with diabetes is 10 times higher than for people without diabetes. About 60-70 percent of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nerve damage that could result in pain in the feet or hands, slowed digestion, sexual dysfunction and other nerve problems.

Role of the Physical Therapist in Diabetes

You may be at risk for diabetes, especially if your hemoglobin A1C levels are above the normal limit. Ask your physician if this test is right for you.

Physical activity, healthy nutrition and stress management are important factors in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Your physician may prescribe medication to assist with the treatment of diabetes.

Your physical therapist can create a safe, progressive exercise program that enables your body to become more sensitive to insulin and effectively remove extra glucose from your bloodstream. The goal is to normalize your blood glucose levels and improve your hemoglobin A1C readings.
Here are just some of the benefits of regular physical activity:
1.     Decrease in blood pressure and cholesterol levels
2.     Reduces the risk for heart disease and stroke
3.     Increase in calorie expenditure to enable weight loss
4.     Boost in energy and ability to perform daily activities
5.     Improved sleep patterns
6.     Stress relief
7.     Strengthening of the heart and better blood circulation
8.     Strengthening of muscles and bones
9.     Better range of motion in joints
10.     Better balance which helps to prevent falls
11.     Happier, healthier, better quality of life
You can experience all these benefits after you consult with your physical therapist.

Five Tips for Safe Exercise

For diabetics, exercise should be a safe, enjoyable and positive experience. When planned correctly, exercise will leave you energized, not fatigued. Here are five exercise tips for individuals with diabetes.
1. It is essential to avoid injuries and remain hydrated. It is also important to have some fast acting sugary food available in the event of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar levels. This is critical for individuals who are on insulin and have type 1 diabetes. As your physical therapists, we can advise you about the best, and safest type of exercise.
2. As a general rule, we will encourage you to warm up for 5 minutes before starting to exercise and cool down for 5 minutes at the end. You will be advised to drink plenty of water before, during, and after activity to stay hydrated.
3. If you feel uncomfortable, you should rest for a few minutes and see if you feel. We’ll train you to understand your energy levels and listen to your body.
4. Use the “talk test” to make sure you are not pushing yourself too hard. If you become short of breath and you can’t talk, then slow down. As your fitness level improves over time, you’ll be able to exercise at a higher intensity and chat with others while you do it.
5. Make sure to wear shoes and clean socks that fit you well. Look inside your shoes before wearing them to make sure there is nothing in them that might hurt you or make you feel uncomfortable. Always examine your feet before and after activity for blisters, redness, or other signs of irritation. Talk to your doctor immediately if you experience pain or notice a blister, cut, or sore.

If you know someone who has diabetes, or is at risk for diabetes, the best thing you can do for them is to ask them do is to call us and schedule an appointment. We are here to help.

Forest Hills Rehabilitation
http://www.foresthillsrehab.com/Physical-Therapy-Queens.html

Can Physical Therapy help Breast Cancer?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. Unknown to most people, physical therapy can play a role in the treatment of breast cancer.

Depending on the severity of the disease, extensive chemotherapy and sometimes surgery may be required. Following treatment, patients feel drained and worn out. This can lower the patient’s quality of life by significantly affecting day-to-day function.
Physical therapy helps with pain management, range of motion and muscle function. In fact, the American Cancer Society strongly recommends a structured exercise program and physical therapists are uniquely qualified to assess the need for, plan and implement such a program.

Post Surgery and Long term Care
Broadly speaking, the role of the physical therapist in breast cancer can be divided into two parts: input immediately after surgery, and long term care input.

1. Immediately after surgery
Breast cancer surgery not only involves removal of the affected breast tissue, but can also include the nearby lymph nodes and some blood vessels as well.
Exercise facilitates healing and helps restore function in the affected side. As soon as pain subsides, the physical therapist can help increase range of motion and encourage muscle contractions. Physical therapists will prescribe and teach certain stretching and strengthening exercises for surrounding joints like the shoulder and elbow to maintain mobility and muscle function.
Breathing exercises allow for increased expansion of lungs and movements of joints in and around the rib cage. Postural precautions (not sleeping on the side of the operation for a few days for example) are also provided by the physical therapist.
The prevention of swelling in the lymph nodes (lymphedema) reduces levels of fatigue, helping patients to remain active.
2. Long term treatment
A physical therapist can help patients regain confidence, improve lung capacity, move without pain, remain physically active and live happy, healthy and productive lives. This is achieved using a combination of exercise therapy, manual techniques and home exercise programs.
Patients may also be asked to participate in group exercise activities involving other cancer patients. A social environment is a good way to promote rehabilitation and allow the patient to recover in a relaxed and comfortable environment.

The Road to Recovery

Ask your doctor if exercise is right for you, and if the answer is yes, request a referral to a physical therapist.
Your physical therapist will teach you a gentle, progressive exercise program and will encourage you to work within your pain limits. Wear lose, comfortable clothes as you do some gentle exercises. Never push yourself to the point of pain. Always take long, deep breaths, and never hold your breath while exercising. In the first few weeks of recovery, always exercise under the supervision of a physical therapist.
Physical therapy plays an important role in the road to recovery for patients with breast cancer. Give us a chance to help you, and we’ll show you everything we can do to change your life.
Forest Hills Rehabilitation
http://www.ForestHillsRehab.com
(888) 595-7282

Did you Know? October is National Physical Therapy Month
Patients and physicians all over the world embrace the benefits of physical therapy and it’s impact on quality of life for musculoskeletal impairments. Physical therapists can help with diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disorders related to bones, joints and muscles. Reduction in pain, improvement in mobility, increased confidence and enhanced mood are a few examples of the benefits of physical therapy.

Did you know that October is called ‘National Physical Therapy month’, according to the American Physical Therapy Association?

Why celebrate physical therapy?

Every individual deserves to live a happy, healthy and pain-free life. Unfortunately, injury or illness can impact activities of daily living. Simple tasks like bathing, dressing, sitting and standing can sometimes cause pain. This is where physical therapy helps. Physical therapists can help any individual achieve functional independence and live a healthy lifestyle.

We Are Never Too Busy For Your Referrals
Physical therapists train for several years to understand human anatomy and physiology. The therapist can determine how your bones, joints, muscles and nerves work together to control movement and enable day-to-day activities. This insight allows the therapist to help restore or improve muscle strength, joint mobility and balance allowing individuals to live happy, productive lives.

Using a variety of procedures and modalities, expect the physical therapist to help with recovery from injury, relief of pain and restoration of functional movement.

Manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, aquatic therapy, ultrasound therapy, electrical stimulation and massage therapy are a few examples of the treatment options in the arsenal of your physical therapist.

Another major benefit of physical therapy is rehabilitation of patients over 65. As they get older, patients are more prone to osteoporosis and fractures. Any injury at this age can result in joint and muscle stiffness, along with a host of other complications. Expect the physical therapist to provide an exercise program (and walking aids, if needed) to enable the patient to regain functional independence.

Let Us Help You
If you have been thinking about scheduling an appointment, now is the right time. We’ll make sure to accommodate you as quickly as possible and help you regain a pain-free, healthy lifestyle.

There is a lot that you may not know about the benefits of physical therapy. Give us a chance to show you what we can do to improve your health.

Join us in our celebration, and let us help you. We are your physical therapists and we want to make this month about you, not us. We look forward to working with you.

http://www.ForestHillsRehab.com - Looking for a physical therapist in Forest Hills, Queens? This is the latest video clip from our biweekly newsletter on Physical Therapy.

We are a top physical therapy and chiropractic clinic in Queens providing physical therapy for back pain, physical therapy for neck pain, physical therapy for shoulder pain, physical therapy for knee pain, in addition to most other types of neurologic, orthopedic and degenerative conditions. Check out our website - or give us a call today!

Forest Hills Rehabilitation
108-14 72nd Ave, 4th Flr
Forest Hills NY 11375
(888) 595-7282
(718) 520-8480

Tennis elbow is not restricted to those who play tennis. It is a condition in which tendon damage causes soreness or pain around the outside of the elbow or the lateral epicondyle. The symptoms of tennis elbow are noticeable when the palm is turned upward. Damage to the tendons in the forearm makes wrist movements and forearm rotation painful and can limit day to day activities.

Tennis elbow is considered a repetitive movement injury. The name is derived from repetitive movements that commonly occur when playing tennis. In fact, any repetitive movement from consistent turning and twisting can cause tennis elbow. Examples include working on an industrial machine, desk job, and other sports. Sometimes, tennis elbow can actually be caused by a direct blow to the tendons of the elbow area.

The Road to Recovery

A physical therapist can help relieve pain and restore motion and strength to the arm, wrist, fingers, and elbow. The therapist can help with recovery as well as injury prevention and future recurrences of tennis elbow.

Your physician may recommend prescription medication to reduce pain and inflammation. The physical therapist will work closely with the physician to improve circulation, promote healing and help restore full function as quickly as possible.

Expect your physical therapist to:

Identify the movement(s) that may have actually caused your injury and help you to avoid them.
Identify weaknesses or joint restrictions and correct them.
Help reduce pain with treatment techniques and modalities like ultrasound, cold therapy.
Prescribe a home exercise program.
Helping You Every Step of the Way…
Exercise and physical therapy is the only long term solution to recover and prevent injury. Once your tendons have started to heal, physical therapy will help you regain strength and endurance. Your physical therapist will assist you during the rehabilitation process every step of the way. Treatment may also include cold therapy to reduce swelling, medications to reduce pain and inflammation and rest.

If you or someone you know has pain in your forearm that interferes with daily activities, ask your physician if physical therapy is right for you. You can also contact us directly and we’ll be happy to schedule an appointment right away. (888) 595-7282

We’ll design an exercise program that is geared towards your specific needs, abilities and goals and help you. Don’t suffer with the constant pain and restrictions of tennis elbow anymore. Contact our office today. Our goal is to help you. We’ll be your ticket to a speedy recovery.

http://www.ForestHillsRehab.com

It’s important to be physically active, and avoid injuries at the same time. This is especially important for a ‘weekend warrior’. If you are sedentary, it’s extremely important to plan ahead in order to avoid exercise-related injuries. After all, the human body cannot go from 'inactive’ mode to 'weekend warrior’ mode in an instant.

Exercise intensity must be progressive; otherwise the risk for injury increases. After all, professional athletes prepare for months (sometimes years) to reach a certain level of physical performance. Athletes prepare their bodies for months during the off-season, as they prepare their body for an intense season. Weekend warriors tend to bypass 'preparation’ and jump right into intense activity.

Common injuries include joint inflammation, muscle tears, and ligament sprains. Most injuries can be treated with physical therapy after the acute symptoms have subsided. In severe cases, surgery might be needed.

Weekend Warriors - Do’s and Dont’s

It’s important for weekend warriors to be realistic. For starters, don’t expect your body to adapt right away to intense activities. If you have been inactive all week long, your body will not be prepared for physical challenges over the weekend. Make sure you have protective gear, and stay hydrated.

Warm up and Cool Down

A warm up is a simple, yet neglected way to avoid injuries. Eight to ten minutes of walking or light jogging, combined with some light stretching is a great way to prepare your body for progressive exercise intensity and minimize injuries.

When you’re finished with your activity, do not come to a sudden stop. Give your muscles a chance to recover by reducing your intensity, but keep moving. For example, if you have been running, don’t come to a stop. Walk for the last few minutes. A cool down period helps restore blood circulation and reduce injuries.

Plan Ahead

Being realistic and planning ahead is important. For best results, get some regular exercise every day. This allows your body to adapt and prepare for your favorite weekend activities.

Physical Therapy For All Ages

If you are a senior weekend warrior, your body is more susceptible to tears, sprains, strains, and other injuries. In fact, there are almost 80 million 'baby boomers’ in the United States alone. Physical therapy plays an important role in injury prevention for weekend warriors of all ages.

If you are one of the many weekend warriors this summer, here are a few ways that a physical therapist can help:

Assessment of Your Body Mechanics/Movements – Your ability to do simple things like move, walk, sit and stand is important to us. We use this insight to create an injury prevention program.
Home Exercise Programs – Once we have reduced your pain, inflammation and restored your muscle strength in the clinic, we’ll design a personalized home exercise program for you. This will help you maintain your results in the comfort of your own home.
Treatment Techniques - Physical therapy techniques include exercise, hot and cold packs, ultrasound, manual therapy, and much more to deal with different types of injuries.

As your physical therapists, we are committed to helping you do the things you enjoy over the weekend. Regardless of your age and activity level, physical therapy can help prevent injuries and improve well-being. Call us today. We will help you make the most out of your summer.

Forest Hills Rehabilitation - physical therapy
10814 72nd Ave, 4th Flr
Forest Hills NY 11375
(718) 520-8480

The Role of Physical Therapy in Knee Injuries
When there is a direct impact to the knee (as commonly seen in sports injuries), the knee joint can twist or stretch beyond its normal capacity causing ligament tears (or sprains), muscle tears (or strains), or cartilage injuries. Inflammation of protective cushioning in the knee joint (meniscus), or fluid-filled sacs inside the knee joint (bursitis), can also occur as a result of excessive wear and tear in the knee.

Knee injuries may be associated with joint swelling. This makes simple activities like bending the knee or putting weight on the leg difficult and painful. Sometimes, there is very little swelling and localized pain on one side of the knee, and the individual is able to walk without pain.

Physical therapy can help reduce pain, regain function and restore strength in the knee. If you suffer from knee pain, you may benefit from attending two to three physical therapy sessions a week over the course of several weeks, depending on the severity of the injury.

A physical therapist is a trained health care professional who can design an effective injury prevention program, in addition to a comprehensive rehabilitation program for the knee. The goal of physical therapy is to restore mobility to your knee as quickly as possible.

A Safe and Effective Treatment Plan
A physical therapist is a coach, mentor, and caregiver for the patient. The goal of the therapist is to help you recover from pain and get you back to normal mobility as quickly as possible. One of the treatment objectives is strategic strengthening of the muscles around the knee to make the joint more stable, while protecting sensitive tissues during the healing process.

Depending on the results of your evaluation, the physical therapist may use heat to warm up the area, and ice to cool down muscles and reduce swelling. Ultrasound may also be used to help rehabilitate the knee. This treatment uses high frequency sound waves to stimulate deep tissues in the body, facilitate healing and improve blood flow to the tissues.

The therapist may also use electrical stimulation, if appropriate. This modality sends an electrical current the affected area to stimulate muscle contraction.

We’ll Stand Beside You

A physical therapist is trained to recognize biomechanical deficiencies in the body. This allows the therapist to design a program to help you move and use muscles more efficiently. A physical therapist can identify areas of weakness and poor mobility around the knee joint and design an exercise program to restore muscle balance between the quadriceps (muscles that extend the knee) and hamstrings (muscles that flex the knee).

At the initial visit, a therapist will ask to see your medical history. It’s important to discuss prior injuries, since this will help the therapist plan your treatment and intensity of exercises. It’s also important to discuss your tolerance for pain and your future goals.

As the community’s preferred physical therapists, we’ll stand by you and help you recover quickly - just reach out to us. We’ll guide you every step of the way if you’ve ever had, or are at risk for, a knee injury.

There’s no reason to live with knee pain; we are trained to help you get back on your feet, regain mobility, and return to your daily activities as quickly as possible. Go ahead, call us today. We are standing by to serve you.

http://www.ForestHillsRehab.com