physical therapy

May is Arthritis Awareness Month 

May is Arthritis Awareness Month 

Did you know arthritis is the number one cause of disability in the United States? According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), arthritis impacts 60 million individuals (24% of the US population) each year! Arthritis has become widely accepted as a blanketed term for joint pain associated with general “wear and tear” or overuse over years of activity.  Arthritis Awareness Month gives us an opportunity to distinguish between the different types of arthritis and how each can be best managed to minimize symptoms and maximize function for optimal quality of life:

It’s Time to Rethink Pain!! – The Sequel

It’s Time to Rethink Pain!! – The Sequel

First steps to addressing chronic stress (and therefore pain, in some cases) are lifestyle interventions including physical exercise, patient education, and mindfulness-based stress reduction. This is where physical therapy can help!

Addressing Deficits Related to Stroke Using the Most Current Evidence and Technologies 

Addressing Deficits Related to Stroke Using the Most Current Evidence and Technologies 

If you or a loved one has been affected by a stroke, there are many ways that our rehabilitation team can support your recovery. Here are some updates about our team’s approach, including how we use our neuromuscular electrical stimulation Neubie device to promote improved efficiency of your recovery. Each therapy area has a specialized focus but we all work together to focus on the whole you!

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month - #MoreThanMyBrainInjury 

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month - #MoreThanMyBrainInjury 

Did you know that the most common cause of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is falls? The largest increase in fall related TBI deaths since 2008 occurred in people 75 years and older. After a brain injury, an individual will often need interdisciplinary care including physical (PT), occupational (OT), and speech therapy (ST). It is important to note that early PT and OT intervention is proven to reduce the risk of falls especially older adults and those with neurologic diagnoses.

Multiple Sclerosis – Finding Help Through Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy 

Multiple Sclerosis – Finding Help Through Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy 

If you have received a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, you may be wondering what happens next. How do you continue to live your life as independently as possible? How will you keep yourself functioning at your best for as long as possible? What should you do if you feel like you are having more trouble completing daily tasks? These are all good questions and a sign that you might benefit from therapy to help improve your function. Three important members of the allied health professional team include Physical therapy, Occupational therapy and Speech therapy. All three disciplines have great potential to help you maintain and/or improve your function.

WHAT’S BEHIND CHRONIC PAIN?

WHAT’S BEHIND CHRONIC PAIN?

Physical Therapist Matt Gallegos, PT, DPT gives us a concise explanation of how chronic pain occurs and some current treatments. Pain shouldn’t be something you just have to “live with”. There are great treatment strategies that therapy can provide to help you get back to moving and doing the things you love.

Vestibular Rehabilitation - What is it and How Can it Help?

Vestibular Rehabilitation - What is it and How Can it Help?

Are you feeling dizzy or imbalanced? Do you avoid sleeping flat due to a fear of vertigo? Does turning your head when you walk make you unsteady?

Physical therapy can help! Vestibular Rehabilitation is a specialty type of physical therapy that you or your loved one may benefit from.

Dry Needling – Hype or Help?

Dry Needling – Hype or Help?

Although dry needling has been around for years, it is relatively new to a majority of people. This overview is intended to shed some light on the “hype” surrounding dry needling and to provide you with information to help you decide if dry needling is the right choice for you.

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Lymphedema: What is it? And What You Can Do About it!

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Lymphedema: What is it? And What You Can Do About it!

March is National Lymphedema Awareness Month. At Virginian Rehabilitation and Wellness we have a wonderful team of Lymphedema specialists: Shirlea North, PT, DPT, CLT and Heidi Pena, PTA, LMT, CLT

To help increase awareness and understanding about lymphedema management, Heidi has written a great informational blog.