Blog: Physical Therapy & Chiropractic

Concussion Prevention in Children

If your child participates in sports, there may be a cause for concern as it pertains to head injuries and concussions. Concussions can happen at any time, especially if your child is involved in a high impact sport like ice hockey. A groundbreaking study on Canadian junior ice hockey published in the November 2010 edition of Neurosurgical Focus uncovers alarming head injury/concussion data and trends that raise many questions about the safety and well-being of teenagers and young adults who participate in this popular sport.

So what is a concussion?

Basically, a concussion occurs when trauma to the head and neck causes a vigorous, unnatural impact to the brain. In most cases, the side-effects of a concussion are short-lived and appear as a headache. However, in some situations, a concussion may result in impaired brain function.

So how do you prevent a concussion?

Besides wearing a helmet, it’s crucial for children to learn neck-strengthening exercises. The strength and stability of the muscles of the neck and trunk will help minimize the impact of injuries and the likelihood of concussions in high impact sports like football and hockey.

For children (and young adults) participating in sports, an evaluation from a licensed physical therapist can help determine potential areas of weakness and instability. Information from the evaluation will help your physical therapist design a neck-strengthening program that can help avoid serious injury and possible concussions due to weak neck muscles.

Is it Really Possible?
It’s almost impossible to prevent concussions, but it is possible to reduce their risk. One of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce the risk of a concussion is to wear a protective helmet. Even if a sport does not require the use of a helmet, we strongly suggest that you encourage your child to use one anyway.

The earlier you can instill this habit, the better. Teach them that a helmet is not an option but a necessity. If children begin wearing helmets at an early age, they will be more likely to use them as they grow older instead of thinking that a helmet is not ‘cool’ enough.

The first rule for your child’s safety should be: “If you want to play, you need to wear a helmet.”

Physical Therapy For Concussions

What is the damage caused by a concussion?

Concussions can be detected years after they occur in MRI scans as 'white spots’. The meaning of these spots is often debated, along with the long-term impact of a concussion.

Regardless of the severity of concussions, you want to minimize them as much as possible. Concussions have been known to cause temporary visual impairment, speech impairment, balance issues, memory loss and other problems. How long these effects last depends upon the severity of the concussion and the time between when the concussion occurred and when it was treated.

Physical therapy can help

Your physical therapist can work closely with other health professionals responsible for your child’s safety. The therapist can help your child by creating a structured, personalized neck strengthening and core strengthening program. This will minimize the risk of concussions. If your child works closely with a coach, a trainer and a physical therapist, he or she will be able to handle the physical stress associated with the sport.

When it comes to the head and neck region, an ounce of prevention is certainly worth (more than) a pound of cure. Give our office a call and set up an appointment to discuss how we can help your young athlete be safe and injury free.

Phone: 718-520-8480
Web: http://www.ForestHillsRehab.com

The Importance of Sleep

As your physical therapy providers, we help you relieve pain with a combination of exercises and other treatment techniques, but nothing helps muscle recovery more than rest and relaxation. We would like to take a moment to have you step back and help you reexamine the importance of sleep.

Sleep is a very important part of our lives for the following reasons:

1. Learning and memory

Sleep helps the brain commit new information to memory; a process called memory consolidation.

2. Metabolism and weight

Being overweight can increase the likelihood of suffering from sleep disorders like apnea. On the other hand, chronic sleep deprivation may cause weight gain. That’s why the right amount of sleep is very important.

3. Mood/quality of life

Lack of sleep (long- or short-term) may result in symptoms like irritability, impatience, inability to concentrate, and moodiness. In some cases, anxiety and depression are also likely to occur.

4. Cardiovascular health

Serious sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea have been linked to high blood pressure, increased stress hormone levels, cardiac arrhythmias, and increased inflammation.

5. Immunity/risk of disease

Though all the mechanisms aren’t clear, scientists have found that sleep deprivation alters immune function. If you don’t get enough sleep, you may find yourself falling sick more often.

How Much Sleep? 7 Hours or More…
Sadly, we live in a sleep deprived society. Some studies suggest that 50 to 70 million Americans are affected by some type of sleep disorder.

It’s likely that you need to make a conscious effort to get more (sound) sleep. The human body needs at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. However, it’s not just the duration of sleep, but also the quality that matters.

Lack of sleep can cause several problems. Aside from drowsiness, it can cause immune, nervous system, endocrine and cardiovascular issues.

The Impact of Sleep Deprivation

As your physical therapists, we want you to get the most out of every exercise routine we design for you, but adequate sleep is the foundation for recovery and strength.

Sleep deprivation can set off a chain of events that can affect different parts of your life. These may include:

Poor health caused by bad food choices. A study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine discovered that people, especially women, who suffered from sleep apnea tend to consume foods that are high in cholesterol, protein and fat.
Impaired sugar metabolism and diabetes are more likely in those who get five hours of sleep (or less) a day.
Both factors above can lead to weight gain and obesity.
The incidence of car accidents increases when sleep deprived individuals are behind the wheel.
Heart attacks are more likely when you sleep five hours or less.
Balance problems and falls are more likely (especially in the elderly).
Children who don’t get enough sleep tend to be irritable, and in extreme cases, show behavioral issues.
When you get enough sleep, your body functions better. We want you to be the best you can be, physically and mentally, which is why we want you to get enough sleep.

Getting enough sleep and planning an exercise program to improve your strength and flexibility will be one of the most important things you do in 2012, and we are standing by to assist you.

Forest Hills Rehabilitation

Our Website: http://www.ForestHillsRehab.com

Phone: 718-520-8480
Web: http://www.ForestHillsRehab.com

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Understanding Causes & Treatment
The carpal tunnel is small tunnel in your wrist. The floor of the tunnel is made up of the “carpal” (or wrist) bones, and the roof is formed by a fibrous band called the flexor retinaculum. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is caused by a compression of the “median nerve,” a nerve that passes through this small tunnel.

The median nerve supplies the structures in your hand (thumb, pointer finger, middle finger and half of the ring finger) with electrical energy.

Anything that narrows that tunnel may put pressure on the median nerve and create the classic carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms:

Hand Pain
Numbness & Tingling
Weakness
Joint Pain
Loss of Grip
Sensory Deficits

Common causes include thickening of the band that forms the roof of the carpal tunnel, bony abnormalities such as arthritis or bony misalignment with trauma, swelling, space occupying lesion, etc.

Each of these causes will require very different forms of treatment, even though reported symptoms may be identical. This is why it is very important to have an accurate diagnosis by a trained clinician.

It is important to note that carpal tunnel syndrome is also progressive. If left untreated, often times surgery will not even help. Permanent nerve damage, muscle atrophy and loss of hand function may result.

The good news however is that most cases can be managed through a combination of conservative physical therapy and chiropractic care when accurately diagnosed early on.

If you have been suffering with symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, such as numbness and tingling, pain or weakness in the hands, fingers, or wrists for more than three days you need to consult one of our skilled clinicians today.

Since 1997, we at Forest Hills Rehabilitation have been helping patients just like you, suffering with carpal tunnel syndrome and related symptoms.

Our skilled physical therapists and chiropractors work closely with supervising medical physicians to offer a variety of different treatment options for you.

We are easily accessible by public transportation, offer early morning, late evening, and weekend hours, and accept all insurance plans.

Give us a call now to schedule your same-day appointment…

718-520-8480
http://www.ForestHillsRehab.com

Our New Year Resolution: A New You
As we get closer to 2012, people start making new year resolutions. In our case, our new year resolution is all about you and what we can do to make 2012 a healthy and pain-free year for you.

As the premier providers of physical therapy in our community, we value your trust in us. Our goal is not only to maintain but also to improve the high standard of care you’ve experienced with us.

As part of our resolution, we are going to teach you how to live a healthy, pain-free life. Please pay close attention to this newsletter because it will help you set the stage for optimum health and wellness in the next 12 months. Your success is ours, and we are committed to your health and well-being.

Here are a few tips to help you stay injury-free in the new year:

Consult a physical therapist to evaluate and, if necessary, improve your strength and flexibility.
Learn the right techniques to lift heavy objects, including heavy backpacks and handbags.
A physical fitness and injury assessment evaluation is the best thing you can do to keep yourself healthy and pain-free in 2012.

New Year Resolution Tips
Here are some ideas for new year resolutions. Please keep in mind that some of these suggestions may need to be modified depending on your individual needs.

When lifting objects, I will use the correct technique (as instructed by my physical therapist) so that I can protect my back.
As I perform my exercises, I will monitor my technique, breathing pattern, and range of motion during each repetition.
I will maintain an upright posture and practice postural awareness exercises at regular intervals throughout the day.
I will make it a habit to stretch at regular intervals while at work.
I will follow the home exercise program provided to me by my physical therapist.

Physical Therapy and The New You

This is the time of the year when most individuals get gym memberships and plan to start regular workouts. It’s also the time of the year when the body is least prepared for unsupervised, sudden exercise which can cause injuries.

Your physical therapist will teach you how to perform an exercise with the correct technique, breathing pattern, and range of motion. We will always answer your questions and help you exercise in a safe, progressive manner.

Don’t hesitate to contact us to ask for help with finding a routine that will work for you.

Now it’s your turn to make some new year resolutions for a healthy and pain-free year ahead!

From all of us to you and your family: We wish you a happy new year and hope you have a safe, pain-free, and injury-free year ahead in 2012.

http://wwwForestHillsRehab.com