Category: blog

Are you a patient enduring the conditions of rheumatoid arthritis? Here at Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, we understand how difficult this can be for patients. Fortunately, there are ways for your symptoms to be managed and alleviated. To learn more about how you can cope with rheumatoid arthritis, schedule an appointment with our team today. 

What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that contributes to the development of inflammation and other issues in your joints. It can also affect your skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels in extreme cases. Since it is an autoimmune disorder, symptoms flare up when your immune system mistakenly attacks your body’s tissues. The damage caused by these attacks can begin to destroy your joints’ lining, potentially leading to the below:

• Joints that are tender to the touch, swollen, or warm.
• Joints that are stiff in the morning or after a period of inactivity.
• Fatigue.
• Fever.
• Loss of appetite.

Potential Complications

Leaving any inflammation alone too long can cause severe damage to the body. When it comes to rheumatoid arthritis, if you don’t seek out medical intervention, you put yourself at risk for developing the below:

• Osteoporosis.
• Rheumatoid nodules.
• Abnormal body composition.
• Carpal tunnel.
• Infections.

How Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions Can Help? 

To help prevent rheumatoid arthritis from taking over your life, we highly recommend working with our team of experts. We can provide you with the intervention methods needed to help you cope with your condition, allowing you to take back any quality of life. Depending on the severity, any of the below can be used to relieve your symptoms:

• Steroid injections.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
• Physical therapy exercises.
• Joint braces.
• In extreme cases, surgery.

Contact Our Team

Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that can quickly rob one’s quality of life. However, you shouldn’t assume that there is nothing you can do for treatment. By working with us here at Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, you’ll find the outlook of your condition greatly improved. To learn more about how to cope with rheumatoid arthritis, or schedule an appointment for care, contact our team today! 

When you’re trying to remain healthy and active, one of the best ways to achieve this is by keeping your lower body strength to a maximum. If you’re not someone who regularly exercises, our team at Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions will be there to provide help. For more information on why keeping your lower body strength is so critical, and what muscles this area is made up of, please consider consulting with a staff member.   

Muscles Of The Lower Body 

The term lower body is extensive, and people may not be fully aware of all of the muscles that go into this area. By understanding the specific muscles that should be trained, you can increase the chances of staying healthy and avoiding injury. Below are some examples of the muscles that make up the lower body:

• Quadriceps
• Glutes
• Hamstrings
• Calves
• Hip flexors
• Abductor group

Essential Part Of Movement

One of the most crucial reasons to maintain a healthy lower body is because this area plays a role in almost every type of movement. How many times do you get up and walk around throughout the day? Do you get out of a chair under your power? All of these things involve the use of your lower body muscles. If you become weak in this area, you are more likely to suffer from injuries. Even if you don’t become injured, moving around with weak muscles can be extremely difficult and could slow you down. 

Improved Balance

As we continue to age, balance can become more and more of an issue. Falls are among the most common reasons people deal with injuries, so everything in your power should be done to prevent falls from happening. Increasing your lower body strength is an excellent method of achieving this goal. When your leg muscles are strong, you’ll find that it’s easier to stay upright.   

Schedule An Appointment

At Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, our team will travel right to your doorstep to provide the assistance that you need. If you’re looking to increase your lower body strength, we’d be happy to help. We’ll teach you how to perform a variety of exercises that will help you in this area, so don’t hesitate to contact us and schedule an appointment today!

Undergoing joint replacement surgery can undoubtedly be a tough decision. However, those who have chosen to do so likely had no other options to find their pain relief. That is why it is crucial to take the necessary steps to help your body fully recover following the operation. At Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, we can help our patients with this recovery process. To learn more about the rehabilitation process following a shoulder replacement surgery, please schedule an appointment with a member of our team. 

Following The Surgery

Patients who believe that their injury problem will be automatically solved once the last stitch has been placed are mistaken. You’ll need to play an active role in recovery to ensure that no long-lasting complications occur. It’s critical to be aware that immediately following the surgery; you may be dealing with the below difficulties:

• Pain and swelling at the operation site.
• Limited range of motion.
• Development of scar tissue. 

Physical Therapy For The Recovery 

To help you recover from the previously mentioned issues that you will likely face following shoulder surgery, our team can come to your home and administer physical therapy sessions. Physical therapy involves utilizing stretches and strengthening exercises to help promote healing from within an affected area. It is perfect for treating injuries, but also useful in patients who have recently undergone surgery. By utilizing the stretches and exercises our team will teach you, the below results can take place:

• Breaking up any scar tissue that has formed.
• Regaining strength in the shoulder.  
• Improving the flexibility of the new joint.
• Ensuring that replacement surgery has a successful outcome.

The Recovery Outlook

Recovering from shoulder replacement surgery will not be an overnight process, nor will one physical therapy session mean all is well. It will take time for the shoulder to heal following your operation fully. You’ll likely be in a sling for two to four weeks to immobilize the joint. Following that, you’ll be able to slightly increase the physical output of your shoulder each passing week. However, expect it to take up to six months for functionality levels to be fully restored.

Contact Us 

Having a plan for recovery following your shoulder replacement can help facilitate a smooth recovery process. At Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, our team can help achieve this goal. Be sure to contact us today when you’re ready to schedule your first appointment.

Exercise plays a pivotal role in living a long and healthy life. While some people can handle more vigorous activities than others, even performing the simplest of activities can be beneficial. That is why our team at Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions wants to highlight the benefits that walking can bring. To learn more about why you should get into the habit of going for a daily walk, please schedule an appointment with our at-home physical therapy team. 

Calories Burned 

If you’re trying to shed a few extra pounds this year, going for walks is a great place to start. The key to shedding off excess weight is to burn more calories than you consume. Fortunately, daily walks make this caloric deficit easier to achieve. Below are a few factors that impact how many calories you’ll burn each walk:

• Your walking speed.
• The distance you cover.   
• Your weight.
• The terrain of your path.

Improved Heart Strength

Your heart may be the most important organ in your body, as it is responsible for pumping oxygen-rich blood throughout your body. Keeping this organ healthy is paramount to your overall well being, which is why you should seriously consider adding walking to your daily schedule. Studies have shown that walking for 30 minutes a day five days a week reduces your risk of suffering from coronary heart disease by 19%.

Additional Benefits

Walking is an activity that is easy to do and requires no expensive equipment to complete. All you need is a pair of good walking shoes and nice weather in order to go for one. The benefits of doing so are plentiful, making it the perfect exercise to partake in this summer. Examples of these benefits include the following:

• Lowering your blood sugar.
• Boosting your energy levels.
• Increasing the function of your immune system.
• Easing your joint pain and discomfort.
• Improving the strength of your leg muscles.

Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions   

At Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, we want to keep our patients healthy and active this summer. One of the easiest ways to do this is to put on a pair of sneakers and go for a walk. This form of exercise takes minimal effort but can maximize your health levels. For more information about the benefits of going for daily walks, feel free to contact our team today!

After finally undergoing your knee replacement surgery, it’s easy to assume that your healing journey has ended. However, our team at Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions is here to tell you that it has only just begun. To avoid any long-lasting complications from the surgery, you’ll need to undergo a regimen of physical therapy to help heal the area that was operated on.  To learn more about the importance of this, and what will go into your sessions of physical therapy, please schedule an appointment via our website. 

Symptoms Following Your Knee Replacement

While you may think it is time to rest, physical therapy should start within days of your knee replacement surgery. Failing to do so can have devastating complications for your health.  Fortunately, physical therapy will be able to help curtail the below symptoms following your operation:

• Swelling.
• Pain.
• The development of scar tissue.

What Our Team Will Help With

If you’ve had to undergo knee replacement surgery, chances are that knee issues have been persisting for some time. Following your surgery and a comprehensive regimen of physical therapy, you’ll find yourself walking better than you have been in years. Our team cannot stress the importance of physical therapy following your surgery enough, as this will likely help with the following:

• Strengthening your leg.
• Restoring knee movement.
• Getting comfortable walking with your knee joint.

Examples Of Exercises

When working with our team, patients should feel comfortable knowing that our physical therapists will never push them too hard too soon. Our main goal is to help you recover from your surgery, and our team will craft the perfect regimen that meets your specific needs to help you accomplish this goal. We’ll teach you a variety of beneficial exercises, which include the below:

• Quadricep sets.
• Straight leg raises.
• Ankle pumps.
• Sitting supported knee bends.
• Sitting unsupported knee bends.

Contact Us

One of the main benefits of working with our staff at Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions is that we’ll come right to your door to administer care.  This option is often optimal for people who have just been through a knee replacement surgery, as it may be a bit uncomfortable to travel until the knee has fully healed. To schedule your first appointment for physical therapy, be sure to contact our team today!

As people enter their golden years, the time they spend being active can greatly diminish.  While several of us may think this is par for the course, the truth is, not being active can cause overall bodily harm. At Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, our team is committed to sharing this message so that you can stay healthy. To learn more about the importance of remaining physically active, and ideas on how you can do so, please schedule an appointment online by clicking here.

Benefits Of Staying Active

According to the Center for Disease Control, being inactive as you age can come with some unfortunate consequences. Although it can seem difficult, making a consistent effort to remain physically active even when you age can offer many benefits to your health. The benefits you can experience are listed below:

• Remaining active limits the chances of suffering from chronic illnesses.
• Reduces the risk of functional limitations.
• Improves mental health.
• Mitigates the chances of suffering from premature death.
• In some cases, it can reduce healthcare expenses.     

How Long To Be Active

If you’ve spent a majority of your life being inactive, the idea of increasing your activity levels at an older age can seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, the recommended amount of physical activity you should be getting can be broken down into manageable increments. On average, you should be aiming to spend at least 150 minutes, or two and a half hours, being physically active. Although this may seem like a lot, when broken out over a seven day period, it works out to be a little over 20 minutes a day. Even if it’s only minor activities, we all have time to carve 20 minutes out of our day. 

How Home Advantage Rehab Solutions Can Help  

At Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, our team has experience treating patients of all ages. When inactivity has led to the development of pain or other issues, we have the resources to help. Our team will travel right to your home and offer the physical therapy or other treatment services you need to get back to full strength. We can also provide you with a detailed plan of the physical activities you can perform to your benefit. For more information on the importance of staying active as we age, contact us today! 

As we continue to age, sometimes, our body begins to fail us as a result of this lifelong process. Unfortunately, it is no secret that there are a variety of chronic health issues that can plague the elderly population. At Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, we want all of our patients to remain as healthy and active as possible. That is why our services can be used to help patients deal with the most common chronic conditions the elderly population can face.

Common Chronic Health Problem

Chronic health problems can affect any person at any age. However, those who fall into the elderly age range see the likelihood of suffering from certain conditions greatly increase. The severity of these conditions can vary, but each brings with it a unique set of problems. Fortunately, our team is well versed in common chronic health problems for the elderly, and if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with any of the following, we can help treat symptoms and manage the condition:

• Arthritis.
• Heart disease.
• Respiratory problems.
• Osteoporosis.
• Balance disorders.
• Mobility issues.

Why Work With Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions?

When you or a loved one suffers from a chronic health problem, picking the right team to work with plays an important role in finding relief. Our team at Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions recommends you consider letting us provide the care that you need. We understand that traveling for medical appointments can be a difficult task for the elderly population. That is why we’ll bring the treatment to you! Our staff will come right to your door fully equipped to provide care.  

Services We Offer

Depending on the chronic health condition, different symptoms will be experienced and need management. To help with this, our team can provide numerous rehabilitation services that will help restore the quality of life. When you choose us for care, we can bring any of the below services to your door:

• Physical therapy.
• Occupational therapy.
• Speech therapy.
• Recommendations for visiting physicians or social workers.

Contact Us

No one should feel the need to try to manage a chronic health condition on their own. If you or a loved one find it difficult to travel for care, our team can help. Contact us today to learn more about our at-home services and how beneficial they can be for our patients.

The month of May is National Arthritis Awareness Month! Did you know that arthritis is the leading cause of disability in Americans, and it affects millions of families each year?

Here at Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, we are proud to celebrate Arthritis Awareness Month and spread awareness of the detriments of this condition to help those in need and move closer to a cure!

 What is Arthritis?

Those with arthritis will experience inflammation in one or more joints, resulting in pain and limited mobility in the affected joints. Several types of arthritis differ in their severity, body part affected, how it is contracted, and more. Most people who suffer from arthritis are middle-aged, with the probability of being affected increases with age.

Almost all types of arthritis include pain and limited range of motion. Below are some common types of arthritis and some of their specific effects:

• Rheumatoid: This is an autoimmune disease that typically affects multiple joints in the hands, knees, and wrists. Symptoms might include fever or fatigue.
• Osteoarthritis: This is the most common form of arthritis, and is usually a result of the breakdown of cartilage caused by aging. Symptoms commonly include pain, limited mobility, or inability to move certain joints or body parts.
• Gout: This inflammatory condition tends to affect only one joint, usually at the big toe. Symptoms can include severe pain, redness, and swelling.
• Fibromyalgia: People with fibromyalgia may experience pain more severely than those with other forms of arthritis. Symptoms may include full-body pain and stiffness, sleep difficulties, memory issues, fatigue, depression, and anxiety.

 While each type of arthritis tends to differ in its cause and effect, there are some general things to consider when it comes to the onset of arthritis:

• Age: The risk of arthritis increases with age as the body wears down.
• Sex: Research shows that females tend to be more likely to suffer from arthritis.
• Genes: Some underlying causes of arthritis may be hereditary.
• Lifestyle: Eating the right foods and exercising enough can help reduce risk. People suffering from obesity or diabetes have a higher risk of developing arthritis.
• Injury: Injuries or trauma to bones or joints can lead to or cause arthritis.

Can Arthritis Be Prevented or Treated?

Treatment for arthritis is usually aimed at preventing or reducing the pain associated with the disease. Pain medications may be prescribed to help alleviate discomfort, and in some instances, surgery may be necessary. Natural remedies, like maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, drinking water, and taking the right supplements can help alleviate painful pressure on the joints. Most often, occupational or physical therapy is recommended to help manage arthritis pain and increase mobility.

Contact Us

With Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, our staff will come to your home to treat you and help you find the relief that you need. Whether it be for arthritis, injury recovery, or other disorders, our team is here to help you from the comfort of your own home. Be sure to contact us for more information about our services or to schedule an appointment today!

With summer right around the corner, this is the perfect time to get your hearing and speech treated if you need it! Did you know that May is considered Better Hearing and Speech Month? At Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions we are dedicated to helping you improve your speech and hearing through our speech therapy services. We have several different therapeutic exercises that we perform to help you better improve and get you back to having great conversations with friends and family. 

Different Forms of Speech Loss

Speech affects people of all ages. The sooner that you get therapy, the more likely you will see improvements and you could potentially start to feel better. When it comes to speech therapy, several different disorders occur across all ages. Some of these disorders may include a few of the following:

• Articulation disorders – A condition where you are unable to perform certain word sounds. 
• Fluency disorders – Disorders such as this affect the flow of speech, causing patients to stutter and clutter sentences and words. 
• Receptive disorders – This causes patients to have trouble understanding and processing what other people are saying. 
• Aphasia – A communication disorder that affects how patients speak and understand others. In more serious cases, it affects how people read and write. 
• Cognitive-communication disorders – This happens due to an injury to the brain that causes patients to have trouble thinking. Oftentimes, this may result in memory loss and problem-solving. 

Different Forms of Hearing Loss 

For anyone who has ever lost their hearing, the levels of frustration will likely be large. Hearing aids can be used to your benefit, but your capabilities are always the primary goal. Luckily, there are available clinics that can help you with your hearing. There exist three primary main types of hearing loss and they are the following:  

• Sensorineural – The most common of all the hearing loss conditions. This is damage to your auditory nerve, which may cause permanent hearing loss. 
• Conductive – Conductive is less common than sensorineural. This is caused by an obstruction or damage to your outer or middle ear that affects your ability to pick up sound 
• Mixed – This is a mix of both sensorineural and conductive hearing. One common catalyst for this issue is compacted ear wax. 

How Can We Help You? 

Both your hearing and your speech are vital to your well-being, and our staff is here to support you in any way that we can. Here at Home Advantage Rehab Solutions, we want you to feel comfortable when you are here. Our team is licensed in several different fields, including hearing and speech. If you or someone you know is looking for a speech or hearing therapist, then look no further than us. Please visit our website today to learn more about how we can help you. 

As we continue to age, the chances of suffering from issues due to mobility deficiencies increases. Injuries, the development of abnormal gait, and degenerative diseases can all play a role in limiting your ability to move without complication. At Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, our team may be able to help when an issue such as this develops. Through the use of at-home physical therapy, your mobility can be restored, letting you keep an independent lifestyle.

Common Mobility Issues 

There is no shortage of injuries and conditions that can lead to issues with mobility. Fortunately, physical therapy is a form of treatment that can be used to help with a wide range of problems.  When you choose to work with our team of expert physical therapists, we’ll bring the care straight to you. If you find yourself faced with mobility issues due to any of the following, physical therapy may be able to help with its various treatment methods:

• The after-effects of a stroke.
• Muscle sprains and strains.
• Parkinson’s disease.
• Multiple sclerosis.
• Gait abnormalities.
• Cerebral palsy.
• Back pain.
• Spinal issues.
• Joint replacements.
• Postoperative pain.

How Does Physical Therapy Help?

Physical therapy is a physical-based form of treatment that utilizes therapeutic stretches and strengthening exercises to help patients overcome their mobility issues. By teaching you how to perform these, our physical therapists can promote healing from within an injured area. Doing so allows for the following to take place:

• Regaining strength.
• Increasing flexibility.
• Improving range of motion.
• Reduction of swelling and inflammation.
• Elimination of pain.

The Benefits Of At-Home Physical Therapy

When you’re faced with mobility issues, traveling to a facility for physical therapy is sometimes not an option. At Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, our physical therapists are equipped with most of the tools found in these facilities, meaning you’ll receive top-quality care from the comfort of your own home. Not having to leave your house for care is one of the many benefits that at-home physical therapy will bring patients faced with impaired mobility. Other benefits may include the following:

• Preventing the need to undergo surgery.
• Helping to rehabilitate after an operation.
• Improving balance and correcting gait issues.
• Assisting in the management of age-related medical problems.
• Restoring your level of mobility.

Contact Us

When you’re battling mobility issues, at-home physical therapy could be the answer. Our physical therapists will do everything in their power to help you make a full recovery. If you believe you can benefit from this form of treatment, be sure to contact our team at Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions today!