I normally ask my patients, "Has anyone ever asked you why you hurt?" or " Do you know why your pain increases with stress, activity, or weather?" Pain is a normal response in the body and is a very important for helping us survive. However, persistent pain and nociceptive pain (pain that occurs during light touch or activates that should not be painful) is not a normal process. Persistent and nociceptive pain is due to the sensitivity of the nervous system and how the brain processes different pain signals. The body is constantly sending signals, for example, right now your feet are telling your brain that you are wearing socks and shoes. There is a threshold for the signals that determines what is important to get to the brain or not. This is why we can go our whole day without thinking about the fact that we are wearing socks and shoes. This is not important information for our body to process all day long. Some of our nerves act as the internal alarm system and will signal the body if there is a threat or injury. If you imagine you were to step on a nail, without looking at your foot or seeing the nail, you would know that you stepped on a nail. You would automatically jump off of that foot, sit down, and inspect the foot. There is a natural threshold of input that, if hit, will trigger a response from the body (see the first picture attached), this case it was when your foot stepped on the nail. In the case of an accident, surgery, emotional stress, or chronic pain the body develops this alert system which wakes up your body in response to danger. Some people's nerves remain elevated and don't calm down very easily. This response impedes on movement and function and is actually very normal. What your body could previously tolerate, is now more difficult because your nerves have become more sensitivity in alerting the alarm system (see the second picture). I also like to think about a car alarm. The car alarm's purpose is supposed to alert the driver if there has been an accident, a break-in, or a bump. If the alarm system is too good at recognizing potential threat, the car alarm will go off when a leaf blows by the car. This is very similar to how our body can act, what was previously easy for us to do becomes painful or difficult. Physical therapy can help turn down your alarm system and help your body perform those tasks that were once easy to complete without triggering your alarm system. This book review was written by Jordan Weyker PT, DPT.
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Welcome to the April 2023 issue of In Focus with PT Plus Physical Therapy What's New at PT Plus APTA Therapist of the Year: Frank Fantazzi We are excited that APTA Wisconsin has decided to honor our very own, Frank Fantazzi, with the 2022 Physical Therapist of the Year Award! The award ceremony will be held Friday, April 28th. Some of our staff will be attending the awards ceremony that day, and we will be closing clinics early to attend the celebration. Book Review: Why Do I hurt? by Adriaan Louw "I normally ask my patients, "Has anyone ever asked you why you hurt?" or " Do you know why your pain increases with stress, activity, or weather?" Pain is a normal response in the body and is a very important for helping us survive." Click here to read Jordan Weyker's PT, DPT full book review. Recent Google Review Lauren Lehsten, ★★★★★ I am so grateful for PT Plus. Their kindness and knowledge with their care makes me enjoy coming in for therapy sessions. I always feel comfortable knowing I’m in good hands. Every therapist and interaction I have had there has been nothing but positive! I recommend their services to anyone who wants exceptional care. Bay View – Brookfield – Elm Grove – Greenfield Thiensville – Third Ward – Racine – Slinger – West Bend PHYSICAL THERAPISTS HELP ACTIVE PEOPLE LIVE BETTER Physical therapy has lots of benefits for active people. Athletes, performers, weekend warriors, and people who work in physically demanding jobs can all benefit from the expertise of a physical therapist. Here are 3 ways physical therapist help active people stay that way. Read More... Physical therapy has lots of benefits for active people. Athletes, performers, weekend warriors, and people who work in physically demanding jobs can all benefit from the expertise of a physical therapist. Here are 3 ways physical therapist help active people stay that way. Injury Treatment Active people get hurt. Physical therapists have the knowledge and skills to help people recover from injuries faster. In addition to helping people recover, physical therapists will look for the root cause of the injury and address that as well, to help keep the injury from coming back. If the injury is severe and requires surgery, a physical therapist will guide the recovery and make sure the person gets back to their activity. But in some cases, a physical therapist can help an injured person avoid surgery in the first place. Injury Prevention Surgery isn’t the only thing physical therapists can help people avoid. A physical therapist can also help with injury prevention too. A thorough assessment of an athlete’s strength, mobility, balance, and coordination helps to identify issues that could lead to injury. A PT can then design a program to improve the problem areas before they lead to injury. A PT can also assess an existing training plan and help to identify areas that may lead to sprains, strains, or overtraining. Improve Performance In addition to helping people improve areas where they’re weak, therapists can help people get better in areas of strength. A physical therapist can create a program to improve strength, flexibility, coordination, agility or speed. Physical therapists are movement experts. They can break down the requirements of a specific physical task like lifting or throwing, then design a training program that will help people meet those demands. Physical Therapy is more than just a way to get back on your feet after an injury - it can also help you stay at the top of your game. Whether you're an athlete, a dancer, or someone who wants to stay in shape, physical therapy can help you reach your performance goals. With the right exercises and treatments, physical therapists can help you improve strength, flexibility, and endurance so that you can perform at your best and lower your risk of injury. References:
We have reached the month of March, which means it is National Athletic Training Month! Some may wonder what the difference is between an athletic trainer and a physical therapist. Both professions are dedicated to helping people optimize movement to return to and/or maintain their best level of function. Let’s go through a few more similarities and differences of the two professions. What does an athletic trainer do?
What does a physical therapist do?
How do athletic trainers and physical therapists work together?
Sources: Athletic Trainer Vs. Physical Therapist: Career, Salary, Education of PT Progress National Athletic Training Month: 20 Facts About Athletic Training These PT Pro Tips are brought to you by our Thiensville and Third Ward Therapist, Alissa Pearson, PT, DPT. Outside of work, Alissa enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, playing soccer, and playing with her dog. Welcome to the March 2023 issue of In Focus with PT Plus Physical Therapy What's New at PT Plus Spring Fever YMCA Family Event Join our therapist, Jordan Weyker for some family fun at the YMCA, swimming in the Family Adventure Pool, bounce houses, games and activities. Hosted at the Feith Family Ozaukee YMCA on 3/17 from 5-7PM and the Kettle Moraine YMCA - West Bend on 3/18 from 10AM-12PM. RSVP with the Facebook Event links above to see complete event details. Blood Flow Restriction Training Workshop Join Mark Snyder at the Hartland Movement Center on Saturday, March 25th to learn about how BFRT works and what the benefits are. This training technique allows for quicker recovery and faster strength gains making it popular among athletes and health enthusiasts. RSVP on our Facebook Event. Recent Google Review Deborah Lema, ★★★★★ I could complain about healthcare practitioners all day long to anybody willing to listen, but not about the good folks at PT Plus. Both Katie and Ryan are smart, skilled, kind, and engaged. And Nancy at the front desk rolls with my shenanigans and is always on top of things. I appreciate these people so much. Bay View – Brookfield – Elm Grove – Greenfield Thiensville – Third Ward – Racine – Slinger – West Bend Moving through Fibromyalgia with Physical Therapy Nearly 5 million people in the United States have fibromyalgia. This chronic condition causes widespread pain, fatigue, and cognitive issues. It can be difficult to manage and can severely impact quality of life. The best treatment plans ... Read More. Nearly 5 million people in the United States have fibromyalgia. This chronic condition causes widespread pain, fatigue, and cognitive issues. It can be difficult to manage and can severely impact quality of life. The best treatment plans combine exercise, modalities and education. Physical therapists are experts in all three, so they're the perfect practitioner to help! Exercise Currently, recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia include patient education and non-pharmacological interventions. The right exercise routine can help with pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, and more. A combination of strengthening, stretching and aerobic exercise is the most effective. You and your PT will work together to find the right type and intensity of exercise to best manage your symptoms. Modalities Exercise isn't the only tool the PT has to help people with fibromyalgia though. Gentle manual therapy and massage have been shown to help reduce pain and muscle stiffness caused by fibromyalgia. Physical therapists also use modalities to reduce symptoms. Examples include:
In addition to land-based exercise, some clinics also have the option of aquatic therapy. This combines the benefits of exercise with the warmth of a therapeutic pool. Education Education is another important component in treating fibromyalgia. A physical therapist spends more time with their patients than most other practitioners. They have the time to help you understand what's going on, and what you can do about it. Research shows that people with more knowledge about their condition have better outcomes, more confidence, and cope better. While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, physical therapists can help with pain management, strength, mobility, fatigue and function to help patients find relief from their symptoms. References:
This month is American Heart Month. It’s also a snowy month, at least here in Wisconsin. While some people have the luxury, desire, and ability to travel south for the winter months escaping the cold and falling white stuff (snow), most WI natives are having to deal with removal of said white stuff. This is done by snow plowing, blowing and shoveling, or a combination of two or all of them. The last two options however, can be very strenuous for the young and old alike depending on the moisture of the snow fall and the total amount accumulated. Even having the very best and top of the line of snow blowers can still require a lot of energy to push the machine down the driveway and sidewalk. Now, you are probably wondering where I am going with stating all of this mostly common sense and knowledge. Well, what is less known is the increase in occurrences of cardiac arrests from snow removal, especially shoveling. According to a retroactive study from the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 6.7% of snow removal emergency visits were cardiac related symptoms. The highest was musculoskeletal exertion at 53.9%, followed by slip/falls at 20% (Watson, 2011). Unfortunately, we as physical therapists tend to see people once an injury already has occurred, and does often include longer rehabilitation due to traumatic falls, significant muscle strains related to the lower back and extremities, and also ligamentous and joint strains (musculoskeletal injuries). While snow removal is unavoidable here in WI if you own your own home or have a job that involves snow removal, it is important to take precautions to reduce the activity intensity. These can include shoveling lighter loads and taking your time, having family or friends help you with the task, or getting stronger before the winter season is upon us. This is one way physical therapy can help. Here at PT Plus, we can help get you stronger to reduce your potential for musculoskeletal injury which will also lower the cardiac demand that snow removal entails, thus lowering your risk for cardiac arrests. We can also correct and assist with movement patterns to help make the removal of snow easier in addition to helping to train and improve your balance to lessen the risk for slips and falls. Whatever the reason or need, we can help. Afterall, we are a more enjoyable experience then an ER visit. So, during this heart awareness month and snow removal season, please remember to be safe and stay warm. Spring is just around the corner. Thanks, Your local PT Plus team Source: Watson, D. (2011) ‘Snow shovel-related injuries and medical emergencies treated in US Eds, 1990 to 2006’, The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 29(1), pp 11-17. Available at: https://ajemjournal-test.com.marlin-prod.literatumonline.com/article/S0735-6757(09)00371-4/fulltext These PT Pro Tips are brought to you by our Slinger and West Bend Therapist, Dave Conway, PT, DPT. Outside of work, Dave enjoys paddle boarding, hiking, camping, swimming, and a desire for most anything new and adventurous! Welcome to the February 2023 issue of In Focus with PT Plus Physical Therapy What's New at PT Plus Shoulder Mobility Workshop Join our therapist, Peter Eidsmoe for a Shoulder Mobility Workshop on Thursday, February 23rd at 6:30PM. He will be presenting to staff, members, and the public at The Gym WB, located in West Bend. RSVP on our Facebook Event Invite! Welcome to the Team! We are excited that Sarah Heitman will be joining the PT Plus family! She will be working in the Elm Grove office beginning next week offering more availability and appointment times, so contact us today to schedule with Sarah! Recent Google Review Skyler Van Sluys, ★★★★★ Alissa has been a great PT with a deep knowledge and understanding of movement patterns and injury prevention. Providing great service and therapy to help heal me fast and effectively. Bay View – Brookfield – Elm Grove – Greenfield Thiensville – Third Ward – Racine – Slinger – West Bend Cold Weather Makes Warm Ups Even More Important! Warm ups are always important. They gradually raise your heart rate, and get you breathing a little faster. This sends more oxygen, energy, and nutrients to your heart, lungs, and muscles so they can perform at their best. Warm ups also get the aerobic energy system ... Read More. Warm ups are always important. They gradually raise your heart rate, and get you breathing a little faster. This sends more oxygen, energy, and nutrients to your heart, lungs, and muscles so they can perform at their best. Warm ups also get the aerobic energy system started, which takes several minutes. Getting it going before your activity also helps you perform better. What's different in the cold? Our bodies have a few tricks to stay warm in the cold. One of these is to narrow the blood vessels closest to the skin. That means that the more superficial muscles get less blood flow, making them more likely to be injured if you place too much demand on them before they're ready. The restriction in the blood vessels also makes your heart work harder. This doesn't mean you can't be active in the cold, it just means that you should take a little more time to get your body ready. How to warm up Start with something to raise your heart rate, maybe a brisk walk or light jog. Follow that with a dynamic warm up like walking or jogging while pulling your knees up high to your chest. Some high front kicks with straight knees will loosen your hamstrings. Walking lunges with an upper body twist will get your whole body moving. Your warm up should match the activity you have planned. If you're not sure how it should look, ask your physical therapist! Consider your clothes Dress in layers so you can adjust your clothing to your activity level. After you warm up, you might want to take off a layer to avoid getting too hot during your main activity. You can always add layers back when your activity level drops or the temperature changes. Even though it's cold, cool down We know it's tempting to rush inside to a warm blanket and hot drink, but don't skip the cool down. Keep moving with a walk or another form of active recovery so your heart rate can come down gradually. A cool down also helps your muscles to transition back to a relaxed state and can reduce soreness following your workout. Since your muscles are still warm, your cool down is the right place for static stretching. The shorter days and lower temperatures don't mean that you're stuck inside for all of your exercise. Follow these tips and you can safely keep moving outside. If you'd like a customized warm up or cool down, or have questions about your exercise routine, your physical therapist is a great person to ask! Welcome to the January 2023 issue of In Focus with PT Plus Physical Therapy What's New at PT Plus Wellness Continuum Class Series Join presenter Judy Ann Walz for a series of classes focusing on proactive and positive self-management for optimal health. These are free classes held in Hartford, WI. View this flier for more information. Join Our Team! At PT Plus, we look for people with passion, skill, and a desire to serve others. We support these qualities by providing an inclusive environment, continued education, and caring about employees as we would a family member. See what opportunities are available. Recommended Read: Breathe: The New Science of a Lost Art, by James Nestor. This book was recommended by our Physical Therapist, Katie Schaul. "Great book for reminding us the importance of the simple things in life that we do every day. Remembering to breathe and breathe correctly can be the missing link to decreasing pain, reducing injuries, and generally staying healthy." Recent Google Review Danielle Jahn, ★★★★★ Highly recommend PT Plus! Finally finding relief from sciatica pain. Alyssa is excellent." Bay View – Brookfield – Elm Grove – Greenfield Thiensville – Third Ward – Racine – Slinger – West Bend Have you scheduled your 2023 PT Exam? Haven't thought about having an annual PT exam? We're biased, but we think you should. You see your optometrist and dentist regularly because your eyes and teeth are important. You get an annual physical from your family physician. You might even be getting ready to see your accountant to get your yearly taxes done. But what about the rest of your body? READ MORE... |
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