Blog: Physical Therapy & Chiropractic

The Sound of Music (in your Hip?)

Snapping hip syndrome, also called dancers’ hip, is a snapping sensation or popping sound heard in the hip while walking, flexing or extending the limbs. This condition can cause discomfort and pain. The good news is that this can be resolved with physical therapy.

Causes

There are several different causes of snapping hip syndrome. These include, but are not limited to:

Extra-articular (outside the joint structure) causes. This occurs on the lateral (outside) or medial (inside) aspect of the knee.
Intra-articular (inside the joint) causes. This occurs when there is a tear or presence of loose bodies inside the joint. This can cause effusion (fluid) buildup. This causes the snapping hip syndrome.
Symptoms

Discomfort in the hip
Stiffness
Pain
Snapping or popping of the hip with some movements
Diagnosis and Treatment

A careful clinical examination and manipulation of the hip joints is completed by a physical therapist. Some of the diagnostic tools include:

Ultrasound
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Treatment of Snapping Hip Syndrome
The treatment of snapping hip syndrome involves a combination of physical therapy, traditional medicine, and at times, surgery.

Physical Therapy: The use of ‘Hydration, Ibuprofen, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation’ (also known as HI-RICE) provides the patient with temporary relief in the acute stages. It is best to consult with a physician before taking any medication to rule out allergies and associated side effects. Expert supervision by the physical therapist is essential for gradual healing of the affected regions.

Traditional Medicine: A physician may recommend prescription medications for pain relief and reduction of inflammation. Corticosteroids injections are commonly prescribed. Talk to your physician about which medication is best for you.

Surgical Interventions: If a structural anomaly is causing the problem, surgery may be needed. In general, surgery is the last resort, when traditional medicine and physical therapy have failed. After surgery, physical therapy plays a critical role in the restoration of strength and flexibility.

If you believe you have snapping hip syndrome, and HI-RICE does not help, reach out to your physical therapist.

Snapping You Back Into Action!

Physical therapy provides exciting possibilities to promote strengthening, healing and rehabilitation of the hip and lower limbs. Here are some of the options in the arsenal of the physical therapist:

Ultrasound to heal connective tissue (tendons and ligaments).
Manipulative therapy that includes stretching and massage.
Resistance training to build the muscle strength.
Cold compress for acute injuries and heat to relax muscular spasms.
Low level laser use for muscle and connective tissue injuries.
Functional electrical stimulation to restore strength in the muscles.
The sooner the therapist assesses the injury and initiates treatment, the better the outcome. Some home remedies that the physical therapist may prescribe include:

Active stretching
Passive stretching
Strengthening exercises
Light aerobics
Don’t let snapping hipping syndrome (or any hip condition) hold you back from freedom of movement.

Call us today, and we will help you snap back into action as quickly as possible. We hope this is music to your ears!

www.ForestHillsRehab.com

Ouch! What To Do When That Shoulder Pops…

The shoulder joint is subject to a great deal of motion, more so than other large joints in the body. This makes the shoulder susceptible to dislocation. Anyone who has experienced a dislocated shoulder knows how painful it can be. In fact, a dislocation can lead to a condition called multidirectional instability of the shoulder (MDI). The joint dislocation can result in an excessive forward, backward or downward motion relative to its normal position. MDI is often seen as a result of a sports-related injury, but it can develop over time with repetitive use of the shoulder joint.

Surrounding soft tissues are also affected. Ligaments and muscles in the arm and shoulder region can become stretched or torn. At times, a genetic abnormality of the joint can be an underlying cause. Repetitive motions, shoulder sprains and sudden muscle contractions can result in MDI. Individuals with below average fitness levels and ‘loose joints’ are also at risk.

Multidirectional instability leads to weakness in the rotator cuff muscles, which become fatigued and overworked. The surrounding bursa (fluid filled protective sacs), tendons and nerves may also get affected.

Pain in the shoulder at rest and with motion is a common symptom. MDI may be associated with numbness, paralysis and weakness in the shoulder. Some patients report a crackling feeling or sound in the shoulder area during motion.

Physical Therapy - the Key to Recovery
Physical therapy plays a crucial role in recovery from any dislocation.

Your therapist will help position the shoulder joint in the right position and immobilize it to promote healing and prevent further damage. A sling may be used for three to eight weeks, depending upon the severity of the injury. Once healing is complete, physical therapy will facilitate recovery. Rehabilitation treatments can include:

Heat and Cold Therapy – Used to manage pain and reduce swelling.

Exercise – A customized program of gentle exercise to build stability, strength and muscle control helps offset muscle weakness after weeks in a sling. Patients will be provided with a strength and mobility program that can be implemented at home and work.

Clinical Pilates – At times, a specialized exercise program can be designed to regain muscle strength, tone, and control. Exercises may be performed with specialized equipment or independently.

Electrical Stimulation – The technique is used to improve muscle and ligament tone. This is a useful method to control pain and inflammation.

Water Therapy – Water relieves stress on joints and encourages patients to relax and move with relative ease. An aqueous environment provides support for weak muscles and joints and supports ‘relearning’ of muscle strength and control.

Meeting the Challenges of MDI
Multi-dimensional instability of the shoulder must be evaluated carefully to determine the best course of treatment. As your physical therapists, we will do everything possible to relieve your pain, prevent further damage, and provide the rehabilitation framework to help you recover quickly.

In fact, physical therapy can help with any pain or discomfort in any joint in the human body. If you or a loved one is experiencing stiffness, tingling or loss of joint function, give us a call. In particular, MDI is a complex condition, and it is often overlooked. The underlying cause for simple 'aches and pains’ can be easy to ignore and lead to further pain and injury. Therefore, we encourage you to reach out to us as quickly as possible.

Once joint healing is complete, we put you through a routine of specialized exercises and therapies to help you regain strength, stability, and functionality. Give us a call to discover how physical therapy can help heal your shoulder and every joint in your body. We look forward to hearing from you!
http://ow.ly/MF5tT

Falling, Balance and Physical Therapy - Forest Hills NY

Falling is a common problem amongst the elderly, and it can result in serious injury. It is estimated that one in every three adults aged 65 and older suffer from a fall every year. Fall related injuries range from hip fractures to head trauma. After a fall, patients experience a significant loss of confidence and a fear of falling when walking unaided. Recovery from a fall involves physical as well as psychological elements. It is important for the patient to seek physical therapy for treatment and fall prevention.

Why do elderly patients fall?

Visual problems, muscle weakness and low blood pressure can cause a loss of balance, which leads to a fall. Other reasons include conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and other conditions that affect the nerves.

Occasionally, middle ear problems (vestibular problems) can occur and balance can be affected. The good news is, falls can be largely prevented with the right precautions.

Can Your Body Act as Resistance?

A physical therapist is trained to help individuals improve balance between muscle groups and increase joint stability. The physical therapist will begin with a detailed neuromuscular assessment to identify muscle imbalances and integrity of the nervous system.

The physical therapist will conduct different tests to determine your sense of balance as you sit, stand and walk. The speed and the stability with which you walk are also evaluated. This becomes the foundation for a balance program, in which you can use your own bodyweight as a source of resistance.

Balance exercises such as single-leg standing under the supervision of a physical therapist are beneficial. Different activities to improve balance while walking and changing positions and direction train the body to prevent falls. The objective is to be able to handle different tasks at the same time while staying in an upright position.

Multiple Benefits of Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is an important aspect of fall treatment and prevention. For starters, a physical therapist will assess your footwear and the safety of your home to eliminate factors that could result in an inadvertent fall.

Your therapist will use several techniques including core stabilization exercises and manual therapy to improve balance and stability. Your bodyweight is an excellent source of resistance for your muscles. The therapist will challenge your sense of balance in a controlled environment by shifting your center of gravity. This activates important muscle groups in the neck, trunk, abdomen and hip muscles.

As the body adapts to these exercises over a period of time, the risk for falls reduces. The therapist will also provide you with a simple exercise program that you can do at home, without the need for any equipment or devices.

Visit our website for more information:
www.ForestHillsRehab.com

Don’t Stress Out About Stress Fractures

A stress fracture, also known as a fatigue-induced fracture, consists of one or more small cracks in the bone. It is associated with a pattern of overuse, commonly seen in the lower extremity in athletes.

Causes
Repetitive motion is one the mechanisms that result in a stress fracture. The muscles become fatigued and are unable to absorb ground force, which is transmitted to the bone. This overload results in stress fractures over a period. High impact sporting activities that result in this injury include:
1 Track and field activities
2 Basketball
3 Tennis
4 Gymnastics

Symptoms
The main symptom is pain in the extremities which worsens with activity and subsides with rest.

Diagnosis
As with any bone injury, the confirmatory diagnostic test is an x-ray. In some cases, a CAT scan or MRI is requested if the x-ray is not conclusive.

Treatment
The pain stimulus is the body’s natural mechanism to protect itself from severe self-inflicted injury. The rule of thumb for immediate treatment is:
• Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation
Rest (and limited weight bearing) is an important aspect of stress reduction on the bone and surrounding joints. Shoe inserts also help with shock absorption.

Stress Fracture Injury Prevention Tips
If something is tingling, numb or hurting, it is time to stop what you are doing and seek medical attention. If a stress fracture is ignored, the condition can get worse and escalate to a more serious injury. A stress fracture is an early sign of bone destruction, and it must be treated quickly and proactively. It is generally associated with dull, aching pain in a general area. As it progresses, the pain can escalate to sharp, piercing pain in a localized area. Ignoring a stress fracture will lead to further bone deterioration. This can result in long-term consequences ranging from increased recovery time to joint deformity.
If you are participating in ongoing, repetitive activity or a high impact sport, it is important to rest periodically from the task and do the following:
• Massage the limbs and joints
• Stretch the muscles
• Relieve the pressure by reducing weight-bearing on the affected joints
Anti-inflammatory and analgesic medication can help with pain relief. A physician may recommend prescription medication for pain relief and refer patients to physical therapy.

No Need To Stress - Your Physical Therapist Can Help

Recovery from stress fractures is a gradual process. Bone fragments need time to heal. The primary objective of physical therapy during the healing process is to prevent further injury. Once the healing process is complete, it is even more important to seek the counsel of a physical therapist. The therapist will design an exercise program geared towards gradual, progressive recovery of full function of the bones, muscles, and joints.

Physical therapy is an excellent choice for non-surgical treatment for mild to moderate cases of stress fractures. Some of the techniques used by physical therapists include:
• Cold compress to reduce swelling
• Strengthening the limbs and joints
• Bracing with splints to reduce load on the affected joints
• Ergonomically designed footwear
• Psychosocial rehabilitation for the professional athlete, looking for a speedy, successful and complete recovery

If you or someone you know has, or is at risk for a stress fracture, give us a call. We’ll be sure to take the stress away.

If you are looking to get out of pain quickly, recover from an injury, surgery, or degenerative condition, give Forest Hills Rehabilitation a call today.

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

How to Deal with Chronic Joint and Muscle Pain

All of us have experienced pain and discomfort in the muscles and joints at some point, especially with age. In most cases, the use of over the counter medications, hot/cold packs and rest help resolve the problem.

Muscle and joint pain can be extremely troublesome to say the least. Some cases start with mild discomfort while others can become so severe that simple things like sitting, standing and walking become extremely painful, limiting day to day activities.

Although physical therapy can improve any condition involving muscle and joint pain, certain conditions make ongoing ongoing physical therapy a necessity. These include:

- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain
- Fibromyalgia

Step by Step Improvement

For people suffering from chronic pain and discomfort, physical therapy improves quality of life. Physical therapists design treatment plans to increase range of motion, flexibility and strength, while reducing pain in the muscles and joints.

Relieving pain in the muscles and joints is the primary goal. A careful designed exercise program helps improve blood flow to the affected areas.

The first thing a physical therapist will do is to help you understand your limits, so you don’t hurt yourself by doing too much too soon. Physical therapists using a variety of procedures and modalities to relieve chronic pain in the muscles and the joints. This also helps patients to safely increase strength and mobility while reducing pain.

Procedures include therapeutic exercise, manual therapy and neuromuscular reeducation. Modalities include electrical stimulation, ultrasound and hot / cold therapy. The therapist will use his / her clinical judgement to identify, design and implement the right protocol based on the needs of the patient.

A Scientific, Proven Solution

Physical therapy is a proven solution to chronic muscle and joint problems. This condition can affect individuals of all ages, and has the potential to impact every aspect of life.

Patients require emotional and physical support since the condition can become severely limiting in nature. Patients may experience anxiety, depression, and potential disability as the condition advances.

The good news is - we can teach you what to do, and we are here to help you. Physical therapists dedicate their lives to helping individuals get better, stronger and live life without pain. We want you to experience the full benefits of strength and mobility. We strive to achieve life changing improvements in all our clients. Nothing makes us happier. We want to see that smile on your face when you walk out of our clinic. It’s why we do what we do.

Physical therapy can empower patients with chronic joint/muscle pain and improve the quality of life. Let us show you what we can do or you. To get started, call us today to discover how we can help you deal with chronic joint and muscle pain.

If you are looking to get out of pain quickly, recover from an injury, surgery, or degenerative condition, give Forest Hills Rehabilitation a call today.

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

Pre and Post-operative Physical Therapy for Total Hip Replacement

Total hip replacement (THR) is a surgical procedure to replace a damaged hip joint with a new artificial/prosthetic implant. Physical therapy is essential before and after surgery in order to minimize complications. Therapy also reduces recovery time and restores hip joint function as quickly as possible.

Musculo-skeletal conditions that may require THR

An impaired hip joint can result in pain and motion restriction for daily activities like sitting, standing, walking and commuting. Some of the conditions that could potentially damage the hip joint include:

Trauma
Tumors
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Osteonecrosis

Signs and symptoms include moderate to severe hip pain and joint stiffness. Since the hip is a weight bearing joint, pain and discomfort in this region can interfere with the ability to walk and result in gait imbalances.

This can trigger several biomechanical adjustments in the lower body and lead to low back pain, knee pain and ankle pain. Over a period, this can cause several limitations in function. It is important to consult with a physician and detect hip joint abnormalities as soon as possible to prevent long-term damage.

Benefits of Physical Therapy

In the event of a scheduled THR surgery, physical therapy can speed up healing and rehabilitation of the hip joint before and after surgery.

Before surgery

A baseline measurement of the strength and flexibility is performed. The patient is educated about precautions to take prior to the surgery and positions / movements to avoid after surgery. Objects and furniture may need to be re-arranged to make sure important objects are within reach.

After surgery

Several procedures and modalities can be used by the physical therapist to facilitate recovery after surgery. These include:

Ultrasound to heal connective tissue (tendons and ligaments).
Manipulative therapy that includes stretching and massage.
Resistance training to build muscle strength.
Cold compress and heat to relax muscle spasms.
Low-level laser use for muscle and connective tissue injuries.
Functional electrical stimulation to restore muscle strength.
The Importance of the Initial Evaluation
Your physical therapist understands that when it comes to your recovery, every little detail matters. That is the reason your therapist will conduct a detailed initial evaluation. This includes objective measurements of the strength, flexibility, and mobility of the hip joints.

The physical therapist will identify functional limitations of the patient and establish a gap between the prior level of function and intended level of function.

Once the physical therapist determines this gap and analyzes diagnostic tests like X-rays and MRI scans, an effective treatment program can be created. This consists of specific procedures and modalities.

Treatment for mild hip problems is generally conservative. It includes medications and physical therapy. Physical therapy can also help before and after THR surgery. After a brief period of hospitalization, the patient may need several weeks, potentially months of physical therapy to achieve full recovery.

If you or someone you know is complaining of hip pain, call our office today. We will do everything we can to help.

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