Nobody is going to be surprised to hear that Physical Therapists work with muscles. But we bet a lot of people would be surprised to learn that the muscles inside your pelvis are included. While the pelvic muscles don’t get as much attention as the biceps or hamstrings, they can still cause problems that need treatment. Here are a few examples:

URINARY INCONTINENCE

Urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine. More than 13 million people in the United States have this issue. There are different types of incontinence, but the most common are stress and urge incontinence.

• Stress incontinence is when leakage happens during coughing, sneezing, or laughing.
• Urge incontinence is a result of the bladder being overactive or unstable. People with urge incontinence often have triggers that cause the involuntary loss of urine, such as hearing running water.

PELVIC PAIN

This is defined as any pain that occurs either internally or externally in the pelvic or genital area. Both men and women can be affected, but it’s more common in women.

What’s the Cause?

Most incontinence is caused by issues with the pelvic muscles – either weakness or tightness. There can be other contributing factors like spasms that cause bladder contractions, or conditions like anxiety may increase the urge to empty the bladder.

Pelvic pain is also usually attributed to either tightness or weakness of the muscles of the pelvic floor. The pelvis is made up of three bones, forming three joints where they meet. These joints need to be stabilized by an outside force. The job of the muscles and ligaments in and around the pelvis is to  provide that stabilizing force. If the muscles are too tight, the joints will have an excessive amount of compression on them. Too loose, and the joints of the pelvis can experience shear forces. Both conditions result in pelvic pain.

WHAT CAN PT DO?

Because incontinence and pelvic pain are usually musculoskeletal conditions, physical therapy can offer a lot of effective treatments. Some examples include:

Exercise – Strengthening or stretching of the pelvic muscles or the core can help correct imbalances, improve pelvic stability and reduce pain.

Biofeedback – This involves using sensors placed on the body while doing exercise to help the patient identify which muscle groups are working and bring awareness to areas of tightness or weakness.

Education – For incontinence,  learning how the bladder normally functions can help you to understand changes that can be made to improve symptoms. Learning about posture and how to improve the alignment of the pelvis and the trunk can help to reduce pain and improve tolerance for positions like sitting and standing.

Manual Therapy – Joint mobilizations, trigger point release, soft tissue massage, myofascial release, and other techniques can help improve mobility of the pelvic joints, decrease tone in spastic muscles, and reduce pain.

If you’re experiencing pelvic problems, our specially trained physical therapists can complete a comprehensive evaluation, help determine the cause, and design a customized treatment plan to help.

_______________________________________________________

References:

1. Research (peer-reviewed)
   1. Geriatric incontinence – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34519024/
   2. Assess Pelvic Floor Guide – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34807882/
   3. Pediatric pelvic floor – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10458431/
   4. Using PTs for Pelvic floor – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35353916/
   5. Urinary Incontinence prevalence – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35173077/
   6. Physical Therapy Treatment of Pelvic pain – Physical Therapy Treatment of Pelvic Pain – PubMed (nih.gov)
2. Articles and Content
   1. Pelvic floor muscles and training – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35036386/
   2. Exercise in pregnancy (helping incontinence – one of the symptoms – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34478617/

You might be wondering who would keep an injury secret. The answer is – lots of people!

The first thing that comes to your mind might be an athlete, like a football player, or maybe a baseball pitcher. But athletes aren’t the only ones that keep injury secrets. Performers like dancers keep injury secrets, and so do workers in all types of jobs.

Why would anyone want to keep their injury secret instead of getting it treated and letting it heal? Read on…

STIGMA

Although there have been big improvements in the culture around sports, performing arts, and worker’s comp, some people still have the old “no pain, no gain” attitude. To some people, reporting an injury is an act of weakness, or a way of letting the team down.

There can also be external pressure from coaches, parents, teammates, supervisors, or fans to keep playing or working.

FEAR OF LOSS

With the focus on head injuries in recent years, athletes that get hit in the head know if they report concussion symptoms, they’re coming out of the game. Workers who get hurt on the job fear loss of pay, or loss of their job. Performers who get hurt might fear that their replacement will outshine them on the stage and take their place.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

While the first two reasons can apply to athletes, performers, workers and most any other group that might be hiding an injury, this one is limited to athletes. If an opposing team knows a player is injured, and what the injury is, they might be able to take advantage of it. For example, if a football team has a running quarterback that has an ankle injury, it will change how the opposing defense plays.

These reasons all make some sense, but they’re also all shortsighted. Finishing a game, dancing tomorrow night, or working one more shift are never worth your long-term health. Hiding a minor injury can turn it into a major one. It’s never weak to report an injury and you’re not letting your teammates, or coworkers down. If you’re not up to your best, you owe it to the people counting on you to let them know. Letting a healthy player, performer, or worker take your place is the right thing to do. If you’re injured, don’t hide it!

Let the right people know, then go to the right person for help – your physical therapist!

Every October we celebrate National Physical Therapy Month to raise awareness with consumers about the many benefits of physical therapy. It’s also a great opportunity to appreciate the outstanding impact Physical Therapists and Physical Therapists Assistants have on society and healthcare.

People everywhere experience the transformative effects physical therapy can have on their daily lives, but some common misconceptions often discourage people from visiting a physical therapist.

This year marks the 30th-anniversary of NPTM emphasizing physical therapists’ value as movement experts as well as the benefits of regular physical activity, and the unique value PTs and PTAs bring to help people get moving.

The core of the physical therapy profession is about care and service. So, this is a great time to get to know about the important work we do. Because all-in-all our care revolves around you!

It seems like common sense—everybody falls, no matter what age. However, for many older adults, an unexpected fall can result in a serious and costly injury. The good news is that most falls can be prevented. And one of the ways you can prevent a fall is by knowing who you can call on for help.

That’s why falls prevention should be a team effort, where each member of the team offers expertise in their area of responsibility or field of work. Some members include health care professionals, like your primary care physician, an occupational therapist, physical therapist, pharmacists, and more.  While health care professionals provide much of the expertise and experience to ensure you live independently and falls free, there are other resources in your community that contribute to falls prevention.

Let’s get to know your falls prevention team

From medication and vision impairment to poor lighting and chronic conditions, the factors to watch for are numerous. That’s why having a team to help spot and address fall risks is so helpful. Below are all of the resources that play a significant role in promoting safety and preventing falls for you.

Your falls prevention team should include:

• family and friends
• an occupational therapist (OT)
• your primary care physician (PCP)
• a pharmacist
• a physical therapist (PT) 
• your local fire department
• your senior center
• your hardware store
• your faith-based organization(s)
• your library
• your local sporting goods store

Each of them brings a unique mix of expertise and familiarity that can provide important protections against falling. Check out this video to learn more.

Your family and friends

You know them, you trust them, and they are happy to help. Family and friends provide some extra hands or another set of eyes to check and rid your home of falls hazards. The next time they come over to visit or help around the house, ask them to take a little extra time helping you find common fall hazards. This checklist shows you what to look for. Family and friends can also join you during doctor visits and help ask questions and gather information about prevention falls.

Your occupational therapist (OT)

Whether you’re already working with an OT or not, they are a vital part of any falls prevention team. They can ensure your assistive devices fit your needs and assess your home to identify hazards to be eliminated and modifications that can prevent falls. During Falls Prevention Awareness Day a few years ago, we toured a real home with Scott Trudeau, PhD, OTR/L from the American Occupational Therapy Association. The video is a wonderful example of how teamwork can prevent falls.

Your primary care physician (PCP)

Primary care physicians are often best positioned to work with patients on falls prevention and get the process started because they see patients regularly. Your PCP knows your medical history and manages chronic illness like diabetes and arthritis that may put you at risk. PCPs can recommend evidence-based programs designed to reduce fall risk, spot hidden injuries resulting from a fall, and evaluate side-effects and other problems with medications that may increase your risk of falling.

Be proactive about addressing falls when you visit your doctor. Even if your appointment was made for something else, sharing information is always important. Tell your doctor if you’ve fallen recently, feel unsteady on your feet or are worried about falling. A good PCP wants to build trust and be accurate so you stay healthy.

Your pharmacist

Most older adults take some kind of medication or supplement each day. The effects of medications on our risk of falling isn’t usually something we think about when we’re trying to get over a cold or manage disease like high blood pressure or arthritis. That’s why pharmacists are an important part of any falls prevention team. When you pick up your medications, use the opportunity to get counseled about any side effects you’re experiencing, and any changes in the medications you’re taking. Check out this video which explore the role of medications in falls and the many ways that pharmacists can help.

Your physical therapist (PT)

Physical therapists are important members of the falls prevention team. They can work with you to improve balance, strength, and mobility to prevent falls and can help address the reasons you may be feeling unsteady. Physical therapists can also help you identify what you can do each day to manage your falls risk and connect you to resources in the community to maintain and improve your strength and balance.

Your fire department 

Your local fire department can play a key role in falls prevention and do more than help you in case you do fall. Fire departments can help prevent falls by offering home safety checks to spot falls hazards*, such as rugs without non-slip backing or too many electrical devices plugged into one outlet. They also can assist in testing and replacing smoke alarms. Firefighters can also connect you to resources in the community to prevent falls. View this infographic to learn more tips on how the fire department can help reduce your risk of falls.

Your senior center

Senior centers are local community-based meeting places where you can gather to enjoy recreational, social, cultural, health and wellness and educational programs to remain physically active, learn new things, and stay engaged with the community. They connect you to a broad array of community services like transportation, nutrition, and benefits access. Senior centers also are a trusted community hub for health and fitness programs to encourage exercise and movement.

Your hardware store

You can find household goods and many other home products and appliances to maintain and improve your home at any local hardware store. Your hardware store is the ideal one-stop shop if you want to make modifications to your home to reduce your risk of falls. They have all the supplies and materials needed to make your home a safe and comfortable place to age in place and remain independent, such as grab bars, a hand-held shower head, nightlights and lightbulbs for brighter light, and nonslip pads for your rugs. They can also help you find what you need to make these recommended home modifications. Installing a walk-in bathtub can also make bathing easier and safer.

Your faith-based organization(s)

You can depend on your faith-based organization to support and encourage you along your falls prevention journey. Faith leaders are trusted sources of important information and can connect you to community resources to address your needs, especially when it comes to your health. You can also count on your faith community for social support, whether it is joining you in a new activity, preparing for a medical visit, or going along with you to a falls screening or other falls prevention event.

Your library

Libraries are a valuable place to learn about falls prevention. They are filled with books and other media for you to use so you can be more informed and educated about your health. Library staff can also help you find specific information on falls risk factors and often know about important community events and other resources. Libraries are also a common place for falls prevention programming, such as A Matter of Balance, Tai Chi, and Bingocize! 

Your local sporting goods store

Your local sporting goods store is a valuable resource for the most appropriate shoes, clothes, and equipment to help you stay active and falls free. These stores can help you pick out the best shoes for walking, hiking, and other exercise activities. Sporting goods stores can also help you pick out the right equipment for health and fitness programs, such as yoga mats, ankle weights, dumbbells, walking sticks, and more. They also carry water bottles and specialized clothing to help you stay cool during the summer and warm during the winter.

Ready to build your falls prevention team?

As you start to pull together those who will help you protect your health and independence, you can always turn to organizations like ours for information. Falls Prevention Awareness Week only happens once a year, but we are constantly creating new resources for older adults, caregivers, and professionals to use whenever you need. Check out NCOA’s Falls Free CheckUp, a quick 12-question screen to help you better understand your risk for falling.

Falls Prevention Awareness Week is made possible in part by grant number 90FPSG0051 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.  

source:  ncoa.org

*Carousel PT offers home safety checks, such as evaluating proper nighttime lighting and clear paths of travel to restrooms when falls are the highest risk, and much more.

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a direct blow to the head, face, or neck. In the United States, an estimated 300,000 sports-related concussions occur annually.

In high school gender-comparable sports, girls have a higher concussion rate than boys. Female athletes have also been shown to have a greater recovery time in postconcussion symptoms as compared to males.

Signs of a Concussion

Concussion symptoms usually appear within minutes of the injury, but some symptoms may take several hours to occur. Any athlete who has lost consciousness during a sports-related impact should be examined for a concussion or a spine injury.

A headache is the most common complaint of an athlete with a concussion. If you suspect your child has suffered a concussion, they may exhibit the following symptoms, which could worsen with stress or activity:

• Loss of consciousness
• Headache
• Feeling in a “fog”
• Difficulty remembering
• Behavioral changes (irritability, rapid changes in mood, exaggerated emotions, aggressiveness, depression, decreased tolerance to stress, etc)
• Nausea/vomiting
• Difficulty with balance
• Pupils that are enlarged or not equal in size
• Double or blurred vision
• Slurred speech
• Difficulty falling asleep
• Excessive drowsiness

What to Do If you Suspect a Concussion

• Do not allow the athlete to return to any sporting event.
• The athlete should be allowed to rest until there is a resolution of symptoms. This allows the brain to recover. Rest involves allowing time to sleep or take frequent naps. It is important to minimize distractions, such as television, the Internet, reading, or phone use.
• It is not necessary to wake the athlete up every hour. This disturbs sleep patterns, which can interfere with the healing process of the brain.
• The athlete should avoid pain relievers, like aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medicines. These may increase the risk of bleeding in the brain.
• The athlete should not be left alone after the injury. Symptoms should be monitored closely. If they worsen, the athlete may need to be evaluated in the emergency room to determine if a more serious brain injury exists.

Our physical therapists can assess symptoms to determine if a concussion is present, and treat your injury by guiding you through a safe and personalized recovery program.

source:

choosept.com

source:

www.choosept.com

Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the joints. It can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling. The hips, knees, hands, and spine are the most commonly affected joints. Arthritis is not a single disease but an umbrella term that includes a variety of different types. Some of the more common examples are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.

While physical therapy might not be the first treatment you think of for arthritis, it probably should be. A lot of people with arthritis choose to use medication to manage their pain, stop activities that hurt, and wait for things to get bad enough to have a joint replacement. But this isn’t a great plan – all medications have side effects, even over-the-counter ones. Reducing activity leads to muscle atrophy and even stiffer joints. Even though joint replacement surgery usually has good outcomes, it does come with its own set of risks and a painful recovery.

Physical therapy has been extensively researched as a treatment for arthritis and demonstrates good outcomes. Physical therapists typically start with exercise as the base for arthritis treatment. Exercise helps to regain lost joint motion, decrease feelings of stiffness, and strengthen muscles surrounding the affected joint. These benefits are all somewhat obvious. What surprises many people is that exercise has been shown to be as effective as medication for pain relief in many types of arthritis, without the side effects.

Physical therapy has more to offer people with arthritis than just exercise though. Education helps people understand their condition, what to expect, and how to manage it. As experts in human movement, physical therapists are especially good at helping people modify the way they perform certain tasks or activities to reduce strain on joints affected by arthritis. They can also suggest ways to modify the environment at work or home to reduce pain and improve function. They may also suggest things like braces, orthotics, or other devices that can help maintain mobility and reduce pain. On top of all of that, PT has been proven to be a cost-effective treatment, too.

With so many techniques that are proven effective in helping people with arthritis, physical therapy is a recommended first-line treatment for many types of arthritis. Now that you have a better understanding of what PT can do, hopefully, you’ll think of PT first when you think of arthritis too.

References:

1. Research (peer-reviewed)
   1. PT for juvenile RA – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1946625/
   2. PT for hip and knee OA – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33034560/
   3. Systematic Review for Juvenile RA – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28729171/
2. Articles and Content
   1. Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Physical Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis–  https://www.rheumatology.org/About-Us/Newsroom/Press-Releases/ID/718
   2. Can physical therapy reduce arthritis pain? – https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/physical-therapy-for-arthritis

Female athlete triad is a condition that involves an imbalance among three factors:

• Energy available for physical activity.
• Quality and strength of bones.
• Menstrual cycle (periods).

The risk of developing the triad has increased with the high demand that athletics place on the female body. In addition, societal pressures for performance and image can contribute. For example, a runner may feel that restricting calories will help her run faster and earn her greater success.

The triad has negative effects on multiple body systems in the early stages. It also can lead to long-term effects on health and well-being as a woman ages.

The three measurable factors of female athlete triad are:

Energy availability. This is the amount of energy you get from your diet, minus the energy used during activity.

Bone mineral density, or BMD. When bones do not get needed nutrients or too much exercise stresses them, their structure can change and they may lose density (mass). This can lead to osteopenia (lower than normal BMD). Osteopenia can lead to osteoporosis (loss of bone strength that increases fracture risk).

Menstrual dysfunction. Menstrual cycles range from periods that are normal to irregular to absent in females from about ages 11 to 51 (menopause). Triad involves an irregular or absent cycle.

Symptoms related to the triad may develop over months or years and may include:

• Low energy during school, work, or exercise.
• Irregular or absent menstrual cycles.
• Stress-related bone injuries (stress reactions or fractures).
• Difficulty concentrating.
• An unexplained drop in performance.
• Changes in eating habits.
• Altered sleeping patterns.
• An unusually high focus on performance or image.
• Experiencing high levels of stress.

Physical therapists can identify the signs and symptoms of the female athlete triad. They will initiate a team approach to care, as needed. Physical therapists also understand the effects that the triad may have on prescribed exercise. Once symptoms resolve, your physical therapist will design a safe return-to-activity program to help you perform at your best.

source: choosept.com

Hip fractures in older adults can result in loss of mobility. This type of fracture also can lead to significant medical expenses. But a 2014 study published in the American Journal of Public Health offers hope. It suggests that four hours of walking each week can greatly reduce hip fracture risk later in life.

The study looked at nearly 36,000 men over a 24-year period. It showed that men who walked briskly for four or more hours a week had a 62% lower risk of hip fracture than men who walked less than four hours a week.

Researchers also found that even men who walked four or more hours a week at a slower pace saw benefits. Those who walked at a slower pace for four or more hours a week had a 43% lower risk of fracture compared with those who walked less.

The Health Professionals Follow-up study reported time spent walking, sitting, and in 10 other discretionary activities every 2 years in 35, 996 men aged 50 years and older from 1986 to 2010. The study calculated hazard ratios (HRs) for risk of hip fracture by amount of activity and sitting in Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for age, body mass index, smoking, medication use, disease diagnoses, and diet.

Over 24 years, participants reported 490 low-trauma hip fractures. Energy expenditure from all activities was weakly associated with lower risk of fracture. More walking time, with little alternat exercise, lowered risk by 43%, and risk decreased linearly with more frequent walking. Brisk (vs leisurely) pace lowered risk by 47%. Sitting lowered risk primarily among those who also walked for exercise. We observed no benefit of strenuous activity.

Walking is a relatively safe and easy activity for hip fracture prevention.

How Physical Therapy Can Help:

If you have limitations due to pain or decreased inactivity, our physical therapists can help by discussing what barriers are keeping you from starting a walking routine. Then we can help you by creating a safe and enjoyable routine that you can build upon, including an appropriate recommendation for footwear and orthotic inserts.

sources:

choosept.com

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

aphapublications.org