Month: October 2019

Whether you’re a gym enthusiast, recreational athlete, competitive athlete, or a weekend warrior, you should ensure that your physical activity is helping your body, not hurting it. We all expect to feel the burn as we put our muscles to work, but sometimes that burn later feels like soreness, and that soreness later feels like pain- and what we’re actually feeling is the result of an injury. Injuries can keep us on bed rest for a while, which can drive a routine exerciser stir crazy. We can’t force our muscles to make a speedy miracle recovery, so the best we can do is take precautionary measures against workout injuries.

Don’t work out when you are too tired. Sure, you have great discipline and manage to get moving every day. Yet if your body is too fatigued, the control you exert over your muscles will be less precise, which can result in missteps during your workout.

Avoid using too much weight. You want to push yourself to work harder, but you should recognize a limit. When lifting, weight should be increased gradually. The most important thing to remember is to listen to your body. Throw out the manta “no pain, no gain”- it’s archaic and is bound to lead you to injury.

Stretch before you workout. Too few people actually take the time to stretch before a workout. Some are simply skeptical of the validity of the benefits. Yet stretching is an important step to take because stretching helps elongate your muscles and enhance muscular circulation, which can actually help you build muscle more efficiently and avoid overstrain.

Be wary of incorrect technique. The faster we try to work out, the sloppier our form becomes. Rushing through a workout or trying to get in as much as possible in a given time is a sure way to hurt yourself. When your form becomes imperfect, you begin straining muscles in ways you’re not meant to. Take it slow, zone in on the muscles you’re working on, and know the proper technique to an exercise before you begin.

Take rest days. For someone who loves exercising, rest days seem like torture. But you’ve heard before and will hear again that your muscles need a break. Rest days enable your muscles to rejuvenate and re-energize so that they can work properly during a workout. Give your body time to restore its ATP and glycogen- you need it if you want to see progress.

Understanding Carpal Tunnel Syndrome depends first on understanding the part of the body that is affected, namely the carpal tunnel itself. This tunnel functions as a passageway of the median nerve, which extends from the forearm into the hand. If this passageway is constricted or narrowed in any way, the median nerve can be compressed which leads to pain and numbness in the hand. If this compression is prolonged, the physical and felt effects can be permanent.

The symptoms of CTS include weakness and pain in the thumb muscles, making it difficult to grasp objects. Wrist discomfort is also common, but a tingling sensation or numbness suggests more serious damage. Early CTS can be treated and eliminated with anti-inflammatory medications and due rest for the hand and wrist. A brace or splint may be used to provide relief. Later stages, however, may require surgery for relief. This surgical procedure entails dividing the carpal ligament into two. If the condition progresses into later stages and is not remedied by surgical means, permanent nerve damage may occur.

The best way to deal with CTS is to take action during the early stages to prevent its progression. Knowing what causes CTS is essential to guide proactive behaviors. Activities that require repetitive wrist motions or even hand positions that place considerable force on the wrist are likely to stress the carpal tunnel. Injuries to the wrist that generate swelling around the carpal tunnel may also lead to CTS as well.

Professions that may require activities that generate a higher risk for CTS include but are not limited to:

Musicians

Hairdressers

Computer oriented jobs

Cashiers

Bakers

Gardeners

Mechanics

Tailors

Painters

Any pain or discomfort should be attended to immediately. Rest from the activity accompanied by ice can suffice until medical attention can be sought. Ignoring the pain will increase the risk of the condition progressing into a more severe and detrimental state, which can result in more permanent and debilitating damage.

Those in need of physical therapy are not always in a position to travel to an office to book appointments and receive treatment. During some recovery and rehabilitation processes, patients are unable to effectively move or transport themselves without assistance, which isn’t always available to begin with. To ensure that these incapacitated patients receive the attention and care they need, there exist physical therapists who opt into homecare.

Patients whose recovery process are more complex and longer in duration include those who have suffered from a stroke, recently undergone surgery, have difficulty walking, suffer from heart conditions, suffer from memory problems, or have general transportation issues and obstacles. These individuals who are unable to reach a facility can still benefit from therapy by contacting and arranging appointments with in home physical therapists, who will accommodate the patient accordingly. Physical therapists who are available for in home care have the necessary means of transportation both for themselves and the equipment they need to ensure that a patient receives the best rehabilitation program possible given their incapacitation.

Some patients may only ever be able to receive in home care given transportation issues, but others whose dependency is based on a temporary physical limitation can transition during their recovery process from in home care to office based care. For many patients, this marks a considerable milestone on the road to recovery, though many patients fear they will have to switch therapists should their physical abilities change. Yet physical therapists offering in home services can commit to a patient’s entire rehabilitation process, agreeing to offer in home care to maintain patient comfortableness and convenience. Therefore patients who experience a swift recovery process need not worry about losing their relationship with their therapist.

In home physical therapy is the best option for patients whose injuries and ailments have left them unable to reach physical therapy offices. No patient should be deprived of the treatment they need to recover, and thanks to the convenience and availability of in home physical therapy, no patient has to be.

Rotator cuff injuries have been affecting professional athletes for years. But this type of injury doesn’t just hurt professionals, many non professionals also suffer from rotator cuff injuries. Rotator cuff tendinitis may occur when the shoulder does the same motion over and over again. A golf swing causes the shoulder to move in the same way and can erode the muscles in the rotator cuff. If not recognized or treated properly this injury can progress and eventually lead to surgery. However, there are ways to recognize rotator cuff injuries and treat them before surgery is needed.

To try and prevent rotator cuff injuries before they happen make sure to always properly stretch before a game of golf or other physical activities. Stretch the muscles in the back of the shoulder by extending your arm across your body with your elbow extended. Use the other arm to gently pull the arm towards your body until you feel tension. To stretch the front muscles get your clubs involved. Hold a club with both hands hip width apart and raise it over your head as high up as possible. While golfing try to shorten and slow down your swing for better control of your body.

Athletes may not always realize that what they are suffering from is caused by the rotator cuff. It causes a deep aching pain in the upper arm so many people mistake the pain for an arm injury instead of a shoulder injury. If you experience any pain in the arm or shoulder you predominantly use while golfing or doing other activities it is best to see a doctor right away. They will be able to evaluate your pain and muscles and properly diagnose you. A physical therapist will be able to prescribe more exercises in order to stretch and strengthen the appropriate muscles.

If you are suffering from a rotator cuff injury both surgical and non-surgical treatments are available. In some cases anti-inflammatory drugs may be needed to reduce swelling. If your case is not severe physical therapy and some time off from the green may be all you need to recover. Other rotator cuff injuries may require arthroscopic or even open surgery. But after the surgery and some rehabilitation physical therapy you should be as good as new and ready to get back to golfing.

When an injury limits your mobility, there are certain aids that can help. Canes, crutches, walkers and wheelchairs can all be helpful, however it is important to know which is appropriate for your specific situation. To avoid choosing incorrectly, you should always consult a professional.

Mobility aids are typically chosen based on the type and severity of an injury as well as the overall fitness of the patient. Crutches may be useful in helping someone with a broken leg, however they require a good deal of upper body strength. For someone with minimal upper body strength, a wheelchair or walker may be more appropriate. These aids are crucial to injured people’s overall health as they allow them not only to move around, but also to get out of bed on their own. Just by standing up people can improve breathing efficiency, reduce the loss of bone density and speed up the overall recovery process.

The easiest mobility aid to use is the cane. Canes give people balance and stability and make walking easier by taking the pressure off of an injured leg. However, people with severe balance issues tend to use walkers rather than canes as they provide more support. While canes can be very useful, they should not be used for weight bearing purposes. There are several types of canes and it is important to ask your doctor which one is right for you.

Crutches allow people to completely eliminate pressure to one leg. Although they require some upper body strength, crutches are relatively easy to use and allow people to maneuver around obstacles with ease. There are different types of crutches made with different materials. Aluminum crutches are lighter than traditional wooden crutches and are therefore easier to use.

Wheelchairs are typically reserved for people who have lost all weight-bearing capabilities. While some people may think that using a wheelchair is embarrassing, this type of mobility aid can promote independence for people who previously had no other way of getting around. Overall, mobility aids can have a profound impact on people’s lives even if they only require them for a short period of time. If you have difficulty getting around, consult your doctor about the type of mobility aid that’s right for you.